Guineans stage arousing welcome for President Mamadi Doumbouya who has returned home after the United Nations summit while President Julius Maada Bio’s return to Sierra Leone is low key.
The military ruler, during the summit, lashed out at several inter-governmental agencies particularly sub-regional bloc, ECOWAS (Economic Community Of West African States), an organisation that seems opposed to Doumbouya’s leadership.
Doumbouya came to power through the barrel of the gun in September, 2021 putting an end to erstwhile President Alpha Conde’s third-term ambition. Although he is not in the good books of the international community owing to the manner he got his presidential mandate, Doumbouya is well liked and respected by his people owing to gains made in his short term of political existence.
He stabilises the economy, keeps inflation in check, improves the transport system especially the aviation sector and normalises the economy among other achievements. Unlike Doumbouya, Sierra Leoneans showed no joy to President Julius Maada Bio who has also returned home from the summit despite widespread news that a standing ovation will be staged for him.
The purported welcome was meant to send a loud and clear message to the international community that Sierra Leoneans still maintain love for their President as everything remains rosy.
But, bad weather riddled with thunderstorms kept SLPP members in their homes creating a picture of God sympathising with the people of Sierra Leone.
Also, threat of a counter-welcome issued by some Sierra Leoneans might have prompted the Bio camp to drop their intention. Others however argue that hard times led to a change of course as life in Sierra Leone’s capital as well as those in the provinces is about seeing tomorrow.
If the ‘haves’ have lost confidence in almost everything what about the ‘have-nots’? Sierra Leoneans wonder as prices of goods and services spiral out of control. Unlike President Doumbouya who strives to protect Guineans’ welfare, Bio’s effort in improving Sierra Leoneans’ living standards has been rated as the lowest.
Among countries in the Mano River basin or the ECOWAS region, it is only in Sierra Leone where a bag of rice stands at NLe800 or Le800, 000 (eight hundred thousand Leones), a lump of onion, Le30, 000 (thirty-thousand Leones), a litre of fuel, Le30, 000 (thirty thousand Leones) a pair of jeans, Le200, 000 (two hundred thousand Leones) and the list continues.
This is not the first time supporters of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) planned to stage an arousing welcome whenever Bio returns home in the midst of hardship. At the height of Covid in 2020, huge crowds of SLPP members received Bio to Sierra Leone after a three-week stay in the Asian country of Lebanon on a honey-moon.
The first couple left for Lebanon almost two weeks after their marriage. The only difference this time, the standing ovation for Bio did not go as planned. Although a counter demo is widely seen as the cause of the low key nature of Bio’s return, discussions or debates about President Bio’s meeting with the ICC (International Criminal Court) Chief Prosecutor, Karim Kahn.
For the anti-Bios, President Bio will not return to Sierra Leone after the summit as he has to submit himself to the investigation or prosecution. Prior to his home coming, there has been a general feeling that Bio may be taken captive by the ICC and that the investigation will start right from that point. They pay little or no attention that the investigation and prosecution of international crimes is a process and not an exercise.
It is a normal modus operandi for the ICC to inform Presidents or heads of governments of countries where crimes that fall within ICC have been committed. It is no difference with Bio who also has been informed first about the process of international justice that is about to commence in Sierra Leone, and must be committed first to the system.
The Chief Prosecutor, Kahn displayed diplomacy when he informed the embattled President that the ICC operates on one principle which is equality of humanity. He said the lives of the people of Global South, Latin America, Asia and Africa mattered just the same way as the lives of people anywhere in the world and that the prosecution would not be confined to the Hague but would be taken to Sierra Leone for the people to see justice at work.
It is however a different game for the pro-Bios who argue that Bio is never invited to the ICC for crimes against humanity. For them, the Chief prosecutor requested an opportunity to meet with President Bio to congratulate him on his election to the Security Council knowing fully well that ICC is not meant for that.
The weakness of this argument lies in the notion that Bio was not the only President joined the ranks of the non-permanent of the Security Council; other Presidents too took seats. If other Presidents are not invited, why only Bio is summoned to the ICC? Other institutions too seem to have supported pro-Bio views.
By playing the roles of spin doctors, only the side in Prosecutor’s statement that favours President Bio was brought to public attention suffice it to say a diversion of public attention. The public debates and discussions started the day an ICC letter surfaced on media platforms inviting Bio to a meeting with the Chief prosecutor although the reason was never stated.
A second letter however reportedly served on President Bio containing crimes against humanity which were allegedly committed between 2018 and 2023. The second letter, according to legal analysts, is much more dangerous than the first one as it spells out chargeable crimes for Bio’s government and the court enlists his cooperation for Justice to be done.
Another debate opens and still continues on Bio’s address to the United Nations as many Sierra Leoneans say falls outside the recognised limit of truth. President Bio told the UN that Sierra Leone is peaceful as the people go about their normal businesses adding that he had instituted a comprehensive system of electoral reforms for future elections in Sierra Leone.
He also touched on government’s effort to strengthen democracy and the rule of law in Sierra Leone which many referred to as another pack of untruthful statements. Democracy is completely weakened in Sierra Leone as election which its main entry point are no more nothing to write home about.
The people’s votes were stolen in broad daylight by announcing Bio winner of the June-24 elections by the Chief Electoral Commissioner, Mohamed Kenewui Konneh. Konneh is head of Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL), a body mandated by law to conduct and supervise elections.
Although neutrality is critical to the acceptance of the electoral outcome, Konneh took sides with SLPP in the elections. Bio also threw dust in the eyes of the international community by informing world leaders that Sierra Leoneans now have lucrative jobs and that living standards have been improved in the country.
By such outlandish statements, the President made an impression that all is well in Sierra Leone when all is not well. Sierra Leonean masses need food on the table as well as a secure and peaceful Sierra Leone where one goes to bed without fear of being shot at by state security forces.
For the pro-Bios, the statements are real as they agree with them to a large extent even in the face of economic hardship, suffering and starvation. These arguments also eclipse Bio’s return to Sierra Leone. Bio’s snub by the people of Sierra Leone as well as the international community started in April, 2018 when he took the presidential oath to serve the people of Sierra Leone.
He started with the wrong footing by way of terror tactics, mass killings, indiscriminate arrest and detention of opposition politicians among other actions without providing for the people’s welfare needs.