I declined, President of Sierra Leone: The United States is attempting to intervene in the presidential election | Bio | The United States
According to Agence France Presse, on the 15th local time, Sierra Leone President Bio stated that the United States had attempted to force him to intervene in the vote counting process of the June presidential election, but he refused. The report states that this statement is in stark contrast to the United States' concerns about the fairness of vote counting in popular elections.
According to reports, on the same day, during a speech at American University in Washington, D.C., Bio said, "At the critical moment of announcing the results of the election, problems arose."
Bio said, "The Sierra Leone Election Commission has completed all necessary calculations, verifications, and all processes. At that time, the US demanded that I prevent the commission from disclosing its results. I don't know who is accusing and interfering."
"They are an independent and semi autonomous institution," Bio said of the Sierra Leone Election Commission, "I declined. I said I have never called this institution and I will not call them now."
Biot said, "The US representative told us that, no matter what, they only want a second round of voting... When the US doubts its credibility, it is calling for a coup."
However, according to reports, Bio also stated that Sierra Leone has "good" relations with the United States and hopes to maintain the current relationship.
In response to Bio's statement, Sierra Leone's Minister of Information, Cherno Ba, said, "I cannot articulate the motives of the United States." "You have to ask the United States about this question.".
Sierra Leone held presidential and parliamentary elections on June 24th. On June 27th, the Sierra Leone Election Commission announced that Bio received approximately 56.17% of the vote and was re elected.
This election is the fifth general election in Sierra Leone since the end of the civil war in 2002, and also the second time that Bio and Camara have competed for the presidency since the 2018 election. According to relevant regulations, if no presidential candidate receives more than 55% of the votes, the two candidates with the most votes will enter the second round of voting.