Signs have clearly shown that SLPP (Sierra Leone People’s Party) will not remain in power after the 24 June 2023 elections, and most of their officials are preparing to leave. They have smelled the rat, but some are clueless about regime change. The Deputy Internal Affairs Minister, Lahai Lawrence Leema is one of those clueless ministers.
He drives roughshod as he threatens to crush anyone that stands in their way. The security forces may be employed to realise the SLPP’s objective. The visit of the British Foreign Secretary to Sierra Leone, few days ago, and his intimacy with the APC flag-bearer Dr Samura Kamara has sent another shocking wave to the SLPP camp. The visit is the latest among several occurrences that signal regime change in Sierra Leone. Images in media platforms show that the visiting foreign secretary is much more intimate with Dr Samura Kamara than President Julius Maada Bio.
The current President is not comfortable with the situation, but he has to put up with it. It appears as if President Bio’s days in office were numbered as Sierra Leoneans are only waiting for D-day. It also bears a semblance that Bio himself knows that he will go out after the elections but will not let the cat out of the bag for now.
The Foreign Secretary’s visit came just days after Dr Sylvia Blyden questioned the actions of the British High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, Lisa Chesney at a press conference held in Freetown. She accused the British official of meddling in Sierra Leone’s politics when she openly backed Mayor Aki Sawyer’s bid for the mayor’s office in the June elections.
The former minister made reference to the Vienna Convention that prohibits interference into member states’ internal affairs especially politics. At the conference hall, the British Ambassador remained silent owing to diplomatic protocols.
Dr Blyden who was an APC (All People’s Congress) minister under former President Ernest Bai Koroma is now widely seen as one that has been reduced to a mere SLPP stooge. She now acts as the spokesperson for President Bio and the First Lady.
The former minister will also not hesitate to respond to any issue that touches SLPP particularly criticism from the opposition side. Dr Blyden’s attacks came after Honourable Emerson Lamina attacked the EU Ambassador, Manuel Muller. Lamina who is a CFC (Coalition For Change) parliamentarian also accused Ambassador Muller of interfering in local politics.
The ambassador, according to the parliamentarian, uttered uncomplimentary statements against the ruling party by stating that a large number of people registered in the North-West than the South-East regions. Honourable Lamina is also uncomfortable with the deployment of the diplomats at the Tonkolili bye-elections about a year ago.
Instead of seeing the deployment as a pro-active strategy to keep the peace, the CFC parliamentarian saw it as interference into the country’s politics.
The row between government and the international community is a danger signal for the SLPP. During a US summit with over 40 African heads of states and governments, President Bio was among six African Presidents who were warned to accept the election result and congratulate the winner after elections. Acceptance of defeat and congratulation of the winner forms the beauty of democracy anywhere in the world.
Former President Koroma of Sierra Leone was cited as a bright example of a leader who built democracy in Sierra Leone and Africa by ensuring that power changed hands without bloodbath. Bio was also less convenient with the warning. He knew quite well that he was directly affected by Joe Bien’s warning. The warning if however complied with helps in peace and democratic consolidation especially in the immediate postelection period.
It happened in the days of former President Ernest Bai Koroma when a change of regime was clear. Former British High Commissioner Gyde Warrington was highly instrumental to the transition of power from the APC to the SLPP in 2018. Instead of seeing it as a sign of regime change, other government officials were busy calling on then President Koroma to declare them persona non grata.
Being fully abreast of what was going on, former President rebuffed calls for expulsion of the British official. Mr Warrington was here through thick and thin, and left only after a change of regime was assured.
SLPP officials are now worried and jittery because they know fire is at their doorsteps. Lisa Chesney and other diplomats will leave only after their mission is accomplished.