Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio secured victory in the West African country’s presidential election with more than 56% of the votes to avoid a run-off against main rival Samura Kamara, the electoral commission said on Tuesday.
Bio, 59, was running for re-election after a first term marred by growing frustration over economic hardship.
“I hereby certify that Bio Julius Maada having polled… 56.17% of the total valid vote cast … is elected president,” Sierra Leone’s chief electoral commissioner Mohamed Kenewui Konneh said.
