Bio begins second term in Sierra Leone

Julius Maada Bio has been sworn in as president of Sierra Leone for a second term by the country's Chief Justice, immediately after the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone declared him the winner with 56.17 percent of the votes against main opposition candidate Kamara Samura, who garnered 41.16 percent.

Before his swearing in, Bio acknowledged his victory on Tuesday evening, saying he was extremely humbled and immensely thankful for the overwhelming vote of confidence.

"This victory is for Sierra Leone, as we have once again demonstrated though our tongues, tribes and political persuasions might differ, we are united in our desire to see the land that we love, Sierra Leone, prosper," Bio said.

After the results were announced, Kamara called the results not credible and an attack on Sierra Leone's fledgling democracy.

"These results are not credible and I categorically reject the outcome so announced by the electoral commission," Kamara said.

The announcement by the electoral commission came after three days of political tension and sporadic violence in some parts of the country, especially in opposition strongholds where security forces fired in the air to disperse crowds.

According to the West African country's electoral commission, voter turnout appeared to be high at around 77 percent with over 3.3 million voters having registered for the elections out of the country's roughly 8.4 million population.

In a joint statement, the heads of international election observation missions in Sierra Leone including the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States, Commonwealth, and the West Africa Elders Forum urged for calm and restraint after the results were announced.

"The Heads of Missions urge all Sierra Leonians within and outside the country to refrain from any inflammatory language that could lead to violence, loss of lives and the destruction of the country," they said.

The election, which was held on June 24, was the fifth since Sierra Leone's 11-year civil war officially ended in 2002.

The plebiscite is seen as a significant milestone for Sierra Leone as the country seeks to maintain stability and progress following years of civil war.