Five issues to dominate Sierra Leone's election

FREETOWN, Feb 25 (AFP): Sierra Leone goes to the polls on March 7 for a general election that will select a new president, parliament and local councils.

With President Ernest Bai Koroma stepping down after a decade in power marred by corruption, an Ebola outbreak and deadly mudslides, what are the main issues facing the West African country's 3.1 million voters?

Sierra Leone is dominated by a two-party system comprising the ruling All Peoples Congress party (APC) and opposition Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP).

A new party, the National Grand Coalition (NGC), was formed by its presidential candidate Kandeh Yumkella when he broke away from the SLPP.