Post-Conflict Elections or Post-Elections Conflict: Sierra Leone 2002 and Patterns of Voting in Sub-Saharan Africa

Harris, David

Abstract

Sierra Leone is just one of a growing number of countries that has experienced the current globally popular tool of conflict resolution, the multi-party election. This method of endeav- ouring to put a final cap on a peace process has a mixed record in Africa. There have been some successes, but the installation of unsuitable over-powerful governments and/or the return to war have more often been the case. The article examines firstly the outcomes of the 2002 Sierra Leone elections, and then situates these consequences on a spectrum of African post-conflict elections outcomes. Finally, possibilities for avoiding or mitigating the negative effects of post- conflict polls, particularly those emanating from the inevitable lack of security, are examined and posited.

Citation

Harris, D. (2003). Post-Conflict Elections or Post-Elections Conflict: Sierra Leone 2002 and Patterns of Voting in Sub-Saharan Africa. Cadernos de Estudos Africanos, 39-49. https://doi.org/10.4000/cea.1047

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2003
• Deposit Date: Jan 29, 2009
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 10, 2025
• Journal: Cadernos de Estudos Africanos
• Print ISSN: 1645-3794
• Electronic ISSN: 2182-7400
• Publisher: Centro de Estudos Africanos
• Peer Reviewed: Not Peer Reviewed
• Issue: 5/6
• Pages: 39-49
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4000/cea.1047
• Publisher URL: https://publicacoes.iscte.pt/index.php/cea/article/view/408/392