Beatings, stone-throwing and arson attacks blamed on ‘tribal rhetoric’ from both main parties
The results of the first round of elections in Sierra Leone have set off a spate of political violence amid accusations of tribalism made against both main parties.
Police have sent an extra 4,000 officers on to the streets and diplomats have called for an end to “tribal rhetoric” after at least five violent incidents involving beatings, stone-throwing and arson, and after politicians had criticised voters for “regionalism” – seen as a euphemism for tribalism – in deciding how to vote.
The main opposition, the Sierra Leone People’s party (SLPP), won slightly more votes than the ruling All People’s Congress (APC) in the first round of a historically peaceful election on 7 March and the two parties have been trying to win over voters ahead of the runoff next week, causing growing tension in the west African country.
