Well known main opposition political activist Abdul Rahaman Samura is still at large. Wanted by the authorities in connection with his political activities, Samura has been on the run since 14 December, 2017.
From information gathered on the fleeing political activist Abdul Rahaman Samura was a professional team soldier who served well on a UN Mission to Sudan in 2010 where he served for six months. Soldier Rahaman Samura was again deployed on an armed mission to Somalia in 2013 where he served until 2015.
After his return from Somalia Abdul Rahaman Samura was deployed as part of the Vice President’s protection unit where because of political issues known only to Samura he decided to flee the country. Unfortunately a bigger political picture would emerge when on 26 November 2023 so soldiers attempted a coup against the government of Sierra Leone for which many have been jailed and or awaiting trial or extradition. Samura was named as a person of interest because his name was mentioned for which he has been receiving death threats. Samura disclosed that he was even warmed by a serving solder that his picture was posted at the airports as new surfaced that he planned on a return to the country.
The very outspoken democracy advocate was forced to leave his family and home to avoid his arrest based on the dreaded “orders from above” that is extrajudicial. If he hadn’t fled the country it would have been a matter of time for Samura’s eventual arrest, prosecution and imprisonment. Imprisonment for political prisoners in the Sierra Leone correctional facility system is among the worst in the world.
According to close friends he was forced to leave behind, Abdul Rahaman Samura’s journey to save his life led him to Greece, where he was not granted asylum, although he was still receiving death threats from his pursuers.
The stress of his situation was beginning to tell on Samura who was on medication, when his situation got compounded by an event that is totally unrelated to Samura’s odyssey.
As reiterated, Sierra Leone and indeed the world were unprepared for the attempted military coup that took place on Sunday, 26 November, 2023 where former members of the armed forces of Sierra Leone and others tried but failed to overthrow the Julius Maada Bio regime.
Abdulrahaman Samura was as earlier mentioned deemed a person of interest in the past treason trial that saw those found guilty sentenced to long prison terms that would see most of them die in prison. Because he had communicated with former fellow soldier and coup leader Amadu Koita, Samura was placed on the wanted list and is presently being pursued by the Sierra Leone authorities.
It would be unwise for Samura to return to Sierra Leone where he certainly will not get justice in a justice system that is dominated by the executive branch of government.
Samura and his supporters not limited to his family and friends said they are hopeful that he will not be forced to return to Sierra Leone but would stay in a country with a long history of protection people fleeing prosecution and persecution.
According to one of Samura’s associates, he said if he returns to Sierra Leone considering what has happened with his past political activities and then this issue of the 26 November 2023 attempted coup and Rahaman’s alleged association with Koita, he will surely face court martial for a crime he has nothing to do with. Several court martial and treason trials stemming from the coup attempt have taken place with more expected. The majority of the accused save for maybe two soldiers were found guilty and sent to long sentences that can only be described as life imprisonment.
Born in 1985, Abdul Rahaman Samura is married to Abibatu Samura. They are blessed with a daughter, Hawa Fanta Samura.