reporter: mayor aki-sawyerr was elected in the aftermath i of that tragedy.female mayor of the country's capital in nearly 40 years. and in that time has poured her energy into transforming - the city and fighting climate change. - freetown the tree town. a plan to plant and growi million trees, reducing the risk of mudslides and flooding. to date, we've planted 635,000 of our million trees. climate has been my main focus in office, but there's so much more to be done. i'm fighting to be the first female mayor to be re—elected in freetown. being a woman in politics in sierra leone is a fascinating experience. i totally underestimated the significance of my gender in terms of my role. there was no interview i had when i wasn't asked, "do you think you can do this job as a woman?" and i used to say, "why are you asking me this? "i am first and foremost a professional. "like, i happen to be a woman." and then you get things like, "oh, she's so stubborn. she's difficult." and i know that the behaviours that result in those descriptions are behaviours and attitude

cheering and applause aki—sawyerr, she is not the right person.ainly because you need someone that can get hands on. you need a practical person. you need a builder, like me. someone who is willing to go to site, someone who is willing to make things happen. she said she will clean freetown and freetown is still filthy. you understand? there are a lot of things she said she would do that she has not done. everything is set for the elections. ifeel great, ifeel like a winner, you understand? and i am going to win. we called a protest because we are concerned about the lack of transparency and how the votes will be counted and collated. we have major concerns and i do not feel they are being addressed. we just want a credible elections. if the elections are free and fair definitely there will be no protest. gunshots and screaming. people are gathering in our party office, just gathering, and the police opened fire and shot and killed someone already. i am on my way there. is the bullet—proof vest still available? no, come on! everybody! listen out f

the mayor of freetown, yvonne aki—sawyerr, took office to fight climate change.rst directly elected female mayor of freetown since it became a position voted for by the residents of sierra leone's capital city two decades ago. but working in politics in sierra leone is no easy feat. a bbc documentary by africaeye filmed her campaign for re—election, which was a period marked by violence in the country. here's a moment when ms aki—sawyerr, her daughter and campaign team were filmed in their headquarters on the day of the election, while shots and tear gas were fired at the building. shouting. quickly. guys, get down, get down. my daughter has asthma. can you hear me? we need help. and shejoins me now on the programme. thank you forjoining me. i want to ask you about what we just saw, the context for the attack and what were you thinking in those moments. goad you thinking in those moments. good morninu. you thinking in those moments. good morning- this— you thinking in those moments. good morning. this was _ you thinking in those moments. good morning. this was th

this is not about aki—sawyerr, this is about sierra leone.ghts. this is about the destruction of democracy. i have never questioned myself as much as i have in the last few days. never questioned this decision as much as i have. that moment my daughter lay on the floor next to me, the teargas, as a mum, you know, i do not know how to describe how i felt. do not know how to describe how ifelt. guilt. fear. worry. all in one. i said to someone this week i reallyjust felt... . but i cannot. i cannot stop i cannot, i cannot ring myself to do that. ., , ., cannot, i cannot ring myself to do that-_ i _ cannot, i cannot ring myself to do that._ i have - cannot, i cannot ring myself to do that._ i have to i cannot, i cannot ring myself to do that._ i have to go do that. love you. i have to go back to work. _ hello there. for the start of this weekend, it's going to feel like we've stepped back into winter, rather than spring, and it's due to the strength and direction of the wind — a cold north—westerly which will feed in a rash of frequent, heavy sh