US announces visa ban on Sierra Leone officials over ‘vote rigging’

News Desk :
The United States has announcement to impose visa restrictions on officials of Sierra Leone who are responsible for undermining democracy and irregularities in the African country’s last elections.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken came up with the statement on Thursday, reports Reuters.

Blinken said under this policy, the United States will pursue visa restrictions for those believed to be responsible for manipulation or rigging of the electoral process and for intimidation of voters, election observers and civil society organisations.

On last June 27, the electoral commission of Sierra Leone said President Julius Maada Bio secured victory in the
West African country’s presidential election with more than 56 per cent of the votes to avoid a run-off against main rival Samura Kamara.

Bio, 59, was running for re-election after a first term marred by growing frustration over economic hardship.

Kamara, 72, who suffered a narrow defeat in the 2018 election, received about 41 per cent of the votes this time.

“These results are not credible and I categorically reject the outcome so announced by the electoral commission,” Kamara said on Twitter after the announcement of final results.