Sierra Leone to choose president
Sierra Leoneans choose a president this weekend, a crucial measure of the diamond-rich country’s prospects for stability following a 10-year war, voting after a campaign that saw clashes among political rivals.
Despite the clashes, the shadow of violence has largely has faded and the election issues that resonated loudest were corruption and unemployment - especially among restless youth who include ex-combatants and one-time child soldiers.
Saturday’s runoff pits opposition leader Ernest Bai Koroma, 54, against current Vice President Solomon Berewa, 69.
In the initial voting on August 11, the first presidential race since peacekeepers withdrew two years ago, both men fell short of winning the required 55% of the needed to avoid a second round. On Saturday, a simple majority will suffice for victory.
