Sierra Leone Voters Go To Polls For Local Elections

Voters in Sierra Leone took part in local government elections on Saturday for the first time in 30 years in what is being seen as a crucial milestone in the West African country's continuing efforts to achieve peace and democracy following a brutal 10-year civil war.

The elections will move decision-making away from the capital and back into the hands of local officials in a step that will be seen as reducing centralization – and the potential for corruption – from central government officials.

A peaceful poll could have a strong impact in encouraging foreign investment and bringing economic growth to the diamond-rich country.

Around 500,000 workers in the alluvial mining sector produce around $300 million of diamonds annually.

The instability in African countries such as Sierra Leone and widespread trading in conflict diamonds was one of the reasons for the setting up of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme. Sierra Leone is a member of the Scheme, having met the minimum requirements.

With 2.27 million people registered to vote, the local elections were the second nationwide poll since the civil war ended.

In the May 2002 presidential election, Ahmad Tejan Kabbah was voted into office after he successfully brought in international forces that ended the civil war.

The United Nations has cut its peacekeeping forces to 11,500 from 17,500 soldiers but the Security Council voted in March to slow withdrawal of the forces to give the authorities more time to regain control of the country that was torn apart by the internecine war.

Rebels launched their revolt 13 years ago partly to try put an end to corruption in the centralized government of the day and to bring about a more equitable distribution of wealth.