By Ibrahim Karim Bangura (Tanko)

ECOWAS members are coming in Sierra Leone June 4 this year.

In a bid to foster peace and security in the sub-region, the Economic Community of West Arica State (ECOWAS’) members are fully ready to implement national unity in Sierra Leone.

They are to ensure an “agreement” between the running Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) and the main opposition political party APC owing to the controversial aftermath of the June 24, 2023 elections in the country.

According to a press notice, the planned assessment mission by the ECOWAS to Sierra Leone, they will be in the country on the 4th to 7th June 2024 with the purpose for a statue of implementation of the agreement for national unity earlier signed between the government of Sierra Leone and the All People’s Congress (APC) party on 18 October 2023.

Nevertheless, the Mission will be led by the joint facilitator, Jallow-Tambajang, former vice President of the Republic of the Gambia. The notice adds that the mission will be consisting of representatives of the Africa Union Commission (AUC), the United Nations office in West Africa and the (UNOWAS) and the Commonwealth of Nations.

The Mission is expected to hold consultations with the committee on Electoral Systems and Management Bodies and the Government of Sierra Leone, and the APC party, noting that moral guarantors of the agreement will include the Independent Commission from Peace and National Cohesion (ICPNC), stakeholders, and the diplomatic community.

In an interview with folks at home and aboard, they have told Africa24 that the intervention of ECOMOG and ECOWAS, for the second time, is highly a scaring news to the public and have already worsen situation on the group.

The June 24 polls have been challenged by national and international observes.

“The international community was dismayed with the results owing to alleged massive rigging, majority of us voted for change, but the voter lists were manipulated and electoral process was sham.”

“We believe in international community and others at least to restore democracy again in Sierra Leone,” they have said.

However, Sierra Leoneans are calling for a batter outcome for a long-waited peace in order to reinstate good governance and proper democracy in the country.

They however regret the millions of dollars (an estimate of $ 1.5 million) that may have already been spent on the ongoing electoral tripartite process sponsored by USA.