Sierra Leone Citizens Participate in National Voting Process

In May 1978, Sierra Leone underwent a significant political transformation when the Parliament, heavily influenced by President Siaka Stevens' All People's Congress (APC), approved a new constitution that established the country as a one-party state. This decision effectively eliminated political pluralism and marginalized opposition parties, particularly the Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP), which had previously held a notable presence in the political landscape. On July 12, 1978, the government announced that an overwhelming 97 percent of voters supported the one-party system in a referendum. However, this claim was met with skepticism and accusations of electoral fraud from the SLPP and various civil rights organizations, who alleged that the voting process was rigged to favor the APC. The announcement sparked widespread protests across the nation, reflecting the public's discontent with the government's authoritarian shift. The demonstrations were met with a heavy-handed response from the military and the Special Security Division (SSD), leading to a crackdown on dissent and further entrenching the APC's grip on power. This pivotal moment in Sierra Leone's history marked the beginning of a prolonged period of political repression and instability, setting the stage for future conflicts in the country.