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WORLD / Africa
Sierra Leone's new president vows to heal war wounds
(Agencies)
Updated: 2007-09-18 14:26
FREETOWN - Ernest Bai Koroma took oath Monday as Sierra Leone's new
president after winning a tense runoff vote and vowed to wipe out graft
and heal deep wounds in the impoverished war-scarred west African nation.
Sierra Leone All People's Congress party candidate Ernest Koroma (L) and
his wife arrive at a polling station to cast his vote during the second
round of presidential election 08 September 2007, in Freetown. Koroma was
sworn in as Sierra Leone's new president on Monday for the next five
years after winning a tense runoff vote. [AFP]?
Koroma, 53, an opposition candidate who defeated outgoing vice president
Solomon Berewa, also pledged to improve the lives of Sierra Leoneans who
live in the world's second poorest country despite its vast diamond
riches.
"We shall adopt zero tolerance on corruption and mismanagement of state
funds," Koroma said in his inaugural speech at the State House, atop the
seaside capital Freetown which is fringed by rolling hills.
"Sierra Leoneans have suffered for too long, we shall endeavour to ease
your pain," he said.
Many Sierra Leoneans make do on less than a dollar a day or are jobless,
and face perennial shortages of basic services such as running water and
electricity.
"For this government, failure is not an option," Koroma said, warning
that his government "shall not hesitate to deal firmly with those who
choose to operate outside the law."
Koroma was declared winner after he garnered 54.6 percent of the vote in
the run-off in the first election to be held in this country after the
pull-out of 17,500 UN peacekeepers.
The election is the second after the end of a 10-year civil war which
ended in 2001.
Koroma on Monday exhorted his countrymen to put their bloody past behind
them.
"Let us begin the process of healing the wounds, let us resolve to
reconcile ourselves as one nation," he said.
UN chief Ban Ki-moon on Monday congratulated Koroma and hailed Sierra
Leoneans for holding a largely peaceful election.
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