Voters in Sierra Leone have been deciding Saturday whether or not to offer President Julius Maada Bio a second time period in workplace amid excessive unemployment and rising concern concerning the state of the financial system within the West African nation.

Bio confronted a discipline of a dozen challengers although consultants have predicted it’s probably his most important competitors will likely be Samura Kamara, the pinnacle of the All People’s Congress Party, whom he defeated in 2018.

To keep away from a runoff, the winner should safe 55% of the vote. In the earlier election, Bio beat Kamara within the runoff by a margin of lower than 5 share factors.

Bio has been going through growing criticism due to debilitating financial circumstances, which his opponent is pledging to repair. Nearly 60% of Sierra Leone’s inhabitants of greater than 7 million are going through poverty, with youth unemployment being one of many highest in West Africa.

Multiple lethal anti-government protests have rocked the nation throughout Bio’s time period, with requires him to step down. Fueled by an increase in value of dwelling, the most recent one final August, left dozens lifeless, together with safety forces.

Margaret Ngegba, a dealer within the capital of Freetown, mentioned she hoped for a winner “who feels for us and provides our children jobs.”

“Right now things are so hard that if you buy something today for 25 leones, the next day you go it’s 50,” she mentioned. “Imagine that. How can our businesses survive in this situation? I have to pay rent and I have six children to take care of.”

A former navy head of state, Bio got here to energy promising to finish rampant corruption. Analysts say that he invested in bettering schooling within the nation and took steps to battle rampant corruption. But the weak financial system has drawn criticism, with Sierra Leoneans taking to the streets protesting widespread poverty.

Bio’s opponent, Kamara, has served in varied authorities positions together with as international minister. On the eve of the election, he sharply criticized the incumbent authorities and referred to as for voters to assist him.

“We have one chance, the chance to drive away this difficult regime that has put us through suffering in the last five years and added to our misery,” he mentioned in a video message launched by his marketing campaign staff.

Saturday’s vote is the nation’s fifth presidential election for the reason that finish of a brutal 11-year civil warfare greater than twenty years in the past.

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