Sierra Leone– 2002- Presidential and Parliamentary Elections
The 2002 Presidential and Parliamentary elections in Sierra Leone were the first held after the signing of the Lomé Peace Accord, which formally ended an 11-year civil war. Seen as a pivotal step in consolidating peace and restoring democratic governance, the elections were carried out by the National Electoral Commission (NEC) with support from international partners.
Held in a context of mass displacement, destroyed infrastructure, and political polarization, the elections nonetheless proceeded successfully across the country. Voter education, the inclusion of diverse stakeholders—including potential spoilers—and a willingness to adapt procedures proved essential in overcoming these challenges. The elections resulted in a decisive victory for incumbent President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah (70% of the vote) and the SLPP, signaling strong public support for peace.
In this recording, Hassan Sesay, then Elections Officer for the NEC, recounts his experience leading operations in Kono District, a key swing district devastated by the war. Facing sabotage, logistical obstacles, and community mistrust, Hassan reflects on key lessons for post-conflict elections: the need to balance electoral integrity with flexibility, the importance of stakeholder inclusion to foster co-responsibility and mitigate conflict, and the value of local knowledge in spotting issues—such as subtle voter intimidation, that international observers might miss.
Hassan Sesay has over 22 years of progressive electoral experience in post-conflict and peacebuilding environments. Hassan worked as an Elections Officer with the electoral management body (EMB) of Sierra Leone, for a period of four years (2001 – 2004). He is currently the Team Leader for Strategic Partnerships in the Electoral Assistance Division, Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, United Nations Secretariat, New York. Prior to this post, Hassan served in various capacities in the areas of electoral planning, operations, logistics and training with the United Nations in electoral field missions. He was Senior Electoral Advisor to the United Nations Mission for Iraq (UNAMI); UNDP Electoral Operations Advisor to the Independent Electoral Commission in Afghanistan; served as UNDP Elections Advisor to the Cambodian National Elections Commission, and UN Field Coordination Officer for the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), supporting the National Electoral Commission of Liberia. He also served as Senior Election Operations Manager with the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), supporting the Independent National Electoral Commission of Nigeria.
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