Sierra Leone new president promises to serve without discrimination

New President Julius Maada Bio has promised to serve all Sierra Leoneans regardless of their affiliations.

In his maiden speech after being sworn-in on Wednesday evening, President Bio praised his predecessor Ernest Bai Koroma for the peaceful transition of power and promised to promote national unity, cohesion and discipline.

“I will be president for every Sierra Leonean, whether you voted for me or not,” he said in the hall of the Radisson Blu Mammy Yoko Hotel.

It was the second time Brig (Rtd) Bio had contested the presidency. He first tried in 2012 when he was defeated by Mr Koroma.

Brig Bio ruled Sierra Leone briefly as military head of state in 1996, after staging a palace coup that ousted his boss, Captain Valentine Strasser. 

He then presided over the first multiparty democratic election in the country, which was then in war and subsequently handed over power to the late President Ahmad Tejan Kabba under the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP).

Brig Bio then joined SLPP as a civilian, under whose ticket he first contested the presidency in 2012.

Meanwhile, the losing candidate in Sierra Leone's presidential election has said he will challenge the results.

Former Foreign Minister Samura Kamara announced the challenge Thursday, after the electoral commission declared Julius Maada Bio the winner of last weekend's run-off poll.


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