Ahmed Tejan Kabbah was sworn in again as Sierra Leone's President on Sunday, appealing for the West African state to unite behind him and rebuild after 10 years of savage civil war.
Kabbah took office for a new five-year term after scooping more than 70 percent of the vote in the first presidential and parliamentary elections since the end of the war that cost the lives of up to 200,000 people.
The people have spoken and made the most far-reaching decisions in the current history of Sierra Leone, Kabbah said, hailing the peaceful manner in which the polls were conducted.
In his swearing-in speech, the 70-year-old leader called for unity and pledged to battle corruption and hunger and improve human rights in this impoverished country.
“I appeal to you whatever your party affiliation or party symbol or ideology to join me in building a new coalition for national development,” said Kabbah, whose Sierre Leone People's Party (SLPP) also won a strong majority in Parliament.
The results showed Kabbah stormed ahead of his closest rival, Ernest Bai-Koroma of the All People's Congress (APC), who gained about just over 22 percent of the vote.
Bureau Report
