Official results announced today...

At 10 am this morning the official results of the elections were announced. Ernest Bai Koroma has won the Sierra Leone’s presidential run-off!

Ernest Koroma of the All People’s Congress received 54.6% of the 1,740,058 votes, while Vice President Solomon Berewa of the Sierra Leone People’s Party received 45.4% of the votes.

There are still concerns about fraud. The national electoral commissioner, Christiana Thorpe has launched investigations into at least 14 cases of alleged electoral fraud. Most thought not all, were reported in SLPP strongholds where an unlikely turnout of 100% or more was reported compared to a 68% national average. Dr Thorpe said these flaws were not sufficient to affect the final result. International observers praised the NEC's conduct of the election which was largely free, fair and peaceful - but that has not prevented some SLPP members from talking of a possible legal challenge.

Under Sierra Leone law, the official results can be challenged by petition to the Supreme Court within seven days of their announcement by electoral authorities.