SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES ANNOUNCEMENT OF OFFICIAL RESULTS IN SIERRA LEONE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General welcomes this morning’s announcement by Sierra Leone’s National Electoral Commission of the official results from the second round of the presidential elections, which took place on 8 September.  The results show that Ernest Bai Koroma of the All People’s Congress Party received 54.6 per cent and Vice-President Solomon Berewa of the Sierra Leone People’s Party obtained 45.4 per cent of the total valid votes cast.  The Secretary-General extends his warm congratulations to Mr. Koroma and commends all Sierra Leonean parties and their supporters for exercising patience and restraint during the tallying of the votes.  He also commends the National Electoral Commission and Sierra Leone security agencies for the professional and efficient manner in which they performed their duties during this period.  The Secretary-General wishes to assure the newly elected Government of Sierra Leone of the continued support of the United Nations as the country continues to move towards durable political stability and sustainable economic development.

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