Sierra Leone has a multi-party system, with the two main political parties being the All People's Congress (APC) and the Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP). The APC, founded in 1960, has historically been associated with the Temne ethnic group, while the SLPP, established in 1951, is linked to the Mende ethnic group. Both parties have played significant roles in the country's political landscape since independence in 1961. In addition to the APC and SLPP, there are several smaller parties, such as the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the People's Democratic Party (PDP). Elections in Sierra Leone are held every five years, and the political environment has been shaped by issues like governance, corruption, and post-civil war recovery.