Political Alliance in Post-Conflict Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone's President Ernest Koroma

Politics from the view point of the traditional African politician , is a game meant to promote the self, especially when it comes to the issue of ‘the winner takes all’, a clear case in point being the problem that erupted after the elections in Kenya where Kibaki was literally defeated but refused to accept defeat, or in Zimbabwe were the political class is still trying to over come the nightmare of a reluctant power sharing agreement that was entered following the defeat also of President  Robert Mugabe. Or even in Ghana, where Professor John Atta Mills won the elections and was left with the option of either to incorporate members of the other political parties or not, not least Sierra Leone where an opposition party then the All People’s Congress got the political mandate of the people to take power democratically from a ruling party.  This is the least talked about issue as far as African politics can go, especially when it comes to whether to get the ‘other side’ involved in the running of the state or not. ‘This is our time’ most often than not, the winning team would tell you. But this is not only limited to Africa as a matter of fact. Look at what is happening in developed nations and see what is happening.

In the Sierra Leone scenario, the country witnessed the one of the most peaceful democratic transition in the history of politics and mankind.  The SLPP who lost power to the then opposition party saw the need to peacefully hand power over to the democratically elected government. But the defeat of the Sierra Leone Peoples Party by the All People’s Congress became a reality as a result of one major reason-the alliance that followed between the two opposition parties then the APC and PMDC

I have been following the political decision that was taken by Charles Francis Margai of the People’s Movement for Democratic Change to lend support to the governing All People’s Party of President Ernest Koroma, following the failure by all the political parties that contested the 2007 Presidential elections to get a first round victory.

The alliance that followed saw the People’s Movement for Democratic Change lending political support to the APC, a decision that was at first not supported by a majority of PMDC supporters in the country.  But the deal was done, and the PMDC were given major ministries of government. At first, the PMDC were in charge of the Ministries of Health, Lands, and Works. But the few months after their appointments, we saw the sacking of key PMDC Ministers. This didn’t go down well with the PMDC who then threatened to withdraw their support to the ruling APC. This in itself became one of the adverse effects of the alliance between the two parties.

Now, we are beginning to see some bad development between the PMDC and the APC. The appointment of Dr Denis Sandy from the PMDC to head the Ministry of Lands and Environment has seemingly become a thorn in the flesh of some prominent politicians within the ruling All People’s Congress Party.  Dr Sandy appears to be resolved to continuer to expose corrupt practices that have been occurring in the ministry for years, but his first area of giving attention has not yielded good fruit for the relationship between the PMDC and the APC. Sandy has accused one prominent member of the APC, Edward Turay who happens to be the leader of government business in the House of Parliament of having been involved in the forceful acquisition of state land.

Grabbing of state land, especially in the capital city Freetown became serious after the end of Sierra Leone’s civil conflict, when most of the country’s population could   not go back to the provinces after the end to the civil war. The accusation levied against the Majority Leader, Edward Turay by the Minister of Lands and Environment has generated a lot of debate in the country.

In the first place, Edward Turay was among the major opponents to the leadership of Ernest Koroma for the APC prior to the presidential elections of 2007. Several legal actions were taken by Edward Turay and co. against Ernest Koroma, and this continued until Ernest Koroma was elected President.  The President appeared to be silent as far as the saga between Dr Sandy and Edward Turay is concerned and there have been several interpretations that this may be a pay back time against Edward Turay.

What may appear to be a political tsunami against the PMDC, committed by the APC is the latest request by the House of Parliament for the Lands Minister, Dr Sandy to tender public apology to Hon Edward Turay. It may interest you to note that members of parliament were accused by the minister in question and for the same parliament to serve as investigator in the matter was surprising at least.  The Parliamentary Special Select Committee did the investigation and one of their several recommendations is for the Minister to apologize. And this, the Minister has so far refused to do.

This action by Parliament appears to defeat the course upon which the political marriage was done between the PMDC and the APC. Now, the PMDC may be seeing this decision as an affront to their status, mindful of the stance by the Minister in question, Dr Denis Sandy. The two political parties should have been able to handle the issue from within their houses, rather than allowing it to come out to the public domain to the extent of destroying their political friendship.

To this end, we may come to realize that the alliance between the two parties in the country may not be able to stand the test of time, following growing diplomatic animosity between founding members of both parties. If the PMDC fails to make a political inroad come 2012, then that may hinder the chances it has to continue enjoying the good relationship that currently exists between them and the APC.

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