Sierra Leone's President Ernest Bai Koroma has promised "zero tolerance" for corruption in his west African nation.
Mr. Koroma spoke Thursday at his formal inauguration in Freetown, two months after he was elected and sworn in as Sierra Leone's president. He called on citizens to change their attitude toward corruption, saying the change is necessary to create a prosperous nation.
Today's inauguration celebrates the first democratic transfer of power in Sierra Leone since the end of the country's civil war in 2002.
Thousands of the president's supporters dressed in the signature red and white colors of his party, the All People's Congress, were there for the ceremony.
The former ruling Sierra Leone People's Party boycotted the inauguration to protest alleged intimidation of its supporters by the new government.
Presidents of Senegal, Gambia and Burkina Faso were among the African leaders who attended the ceremony. The United States was represented by its Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
