Volkswacht Bodensee - Sierra Leoneans head to the polls amid cost-of-living crisis

The West African country, which never fully recovered economically from a 1991-2002 civil war and the Ebola epidemic a decade later, was further pummelled by the Covid pandemic and fallout from the war in Ukraine

Twelve men and one woman are in the running for the top job, but incumbent President Julius Maada Bio's main challenger is Samura Kamara of the All People's Congress (APC) party.

The two will face off for the second time in a row after Bio, of the Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP), narrowly beat Kamara in a runoff in 2018.

Rising food prices are a key issue for many voters in the import-dependent West African nation of eight million people.

Year-on-year inflation hit 43 percent in April, according to the latest official figures.

Both Bio and Kamara told AFP they would prioritise boosting agricultural production.

- Regional allegiances -

Some 3.4 million people are registered to vote, 52.4 percent of whom are under 35 years old, according to an electoral commission spokesman.

Polling opens at 7:00 am and closes at 5:00 pm (1700 GMT).

Presidential candidates must secure 55 percent of valid votes for a first-round win.

Turnout has ranged between 76 and 87 percent over the past three elections.

Voters will also elect members of parliament and local councils in a proportional representation system after a last-minute switch from a first-past-the-post system.

Under a recently passed gender act, one-third of all candidates must be women.

A new 11.9 percent vote threshold will make it difficult for independents and minority parties to secure seats in parliament.

Many Sierra Leoneans vote based on regional allegiances.

The majority of people in the south and east normally vote for the ruling SLPP. The majority of people from the north and west normally vote for the opposition APC.

Jobs and benefits are commonly perceived to flow to regions whose politicians are in power.

Bio, 59, a former coup leader in the 1990s, has championed education and women's rights in his first civilian term.

Kamara, 72, a former foreign and finance minister, has lambasted the electoral commission for alleged bias in favour of the ruling party.

He is facing a protracted trial over allegations that he misappropriated public funds as foreign minister, a case he says is politically motivated.

- Call for peaceful polling -

A June 14 poll by Institute for Governance Reform (IGR), a partner of the pan-African survey group Afrobarometer, forecasts Bio will win 56 percent of the vote, with 43 percent for Kamara.

Another poll, conducted by the newspaper Sierra Eye and two local data groups, forecasts 38 percent for the incumbent and 25 percent for his main challenger.

Both candidates on Thursday evening encouraged their supporters to vote peacefully and responsibly.

The elections are being closely followed in West Africa, a region recently dominated by coups and turmoil.

A group of foreign ambassadors on Wednesday issued a joint statement calling for peace following reports of election-related "aggression".

Security forces clashed with APC supporters Wednesday in the capital Freetown.

Amnesty International and Reporters Without Borders have called on authorities to protect freedom of expression and press freedom during the election.

Last August, riots left at least 27 civilians and six police officers dead.

Online disinformation campaigns have contributed to the violence.

W.Lapointe--BTB