September 15th, 2025
PRESS STATEMENT
SIERRA LEONEANS DEMAND TRUTH OVER POLITICAL THEATER
Sierra Leone Advocacy Movement – Global (SLAM-GLOBAL), speaking on behalf of the anguished yet resilient people of Sierra Leone, issues this powerful call to action amid recent symbolic moves within the All People’s Congress (APC) party that seek to downplay Dr. Samura Kamara’s role as opposition leader. Two years after the disputed June 24, 2023 elections – the day our democracy was fractured, our voices silenced, and our hopes betrayed – no cosmetic leadership shuffle can mend the wounds of a stolen vote or quell the demand for genuine democracy. Sierra Leoneans at home and abroad see through political theater; we insist on real transparency, justice, and unity rooted in truth, not in backroom arrangements.
A Leadership Shuffle Amid a Crisis of Democracy: The APC party’s announcement that Dr. Samura Kamara, its 2023 presidential candidate, is no longer party leader has sent shockwaves through a nation already in turmoil. Dr. Kamara has long been “one of the APC’s most influential figures,” embodying resistance to the ruling SLPP and garnering substantial public support. His meaningless removal signals a shift in the opposition’s dynamics, raising many questions: Who will champion the millions who feel their votes were stolen? Will this change strengthen the opposition or further divide it? Sierra Leoneans fear that internal power struggles are being prioritized over the people’s mandate. While some party insiders hail a “new direction,” many ordinary citizens are left anxious that this upheaval addresses none of their pressing concerns. No leadership swap can substitute for the truth behind the 2023 election impasse.
Critically, the 2023 elections remain shrouded in doubt. Talk of Dr. Samura Kamara’s so-called ‘exit’ is a meaningless gesture, because his role as the leader who birthed the Agreement for National Unity (ANU) and Tripartite process is already complete and cannot be undone. History has already recorded that without Dr. Samura Kamara there would be no Bintumani Dialogue, no ANU, and no Tripartite Committee. That legacy is not subject to replacement. It is a permanent foundation of Sierra Leone’s democratic journey.
International observers documented alarming irregularities that undermine the official results: even the Carter Center reported that vote tabulation “lacked adequate levels of transparency,” with observers seeing open ballot boxes and broken seals. Major discrepancies between the announced presidential tally and other vote counts remain unexplained.
The Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) still refuses to publish all polling-station results, keeping “hundreds of forms” hidden. This data secrecy is an affront to democratic accountability. It has fanned the flames of misinformation and mistrust, as citizens cannot verify if the declared 56.17% victory for Mr. Julius Maada Bio was legitimate. “Lack of information about which polling stations or districts the ballots were coming from” was cited by the APC when they rejected the “fake and cooked-up results”. European Union observers likewise concluded that a “lack of transparency and communication by the electoral authority had led to mistrust in the process”. In short, the people’s faith in our electoral system has been gravely eroded – a crisis that a mere change of opposition personalities cannot fix.
Misleading Narratives vs. Hard Facts: The ANU is no longer in negotiation. It is in implementation. Ownership of this process rests not with any one individual, but with the Tripartite Committee, its Steering Committee, and the International Guarantors – the EU, Commonwealth, AU, ECOWAS, and the Carter Center. To frame today’s work as if we are still replacing ‘Chief Negotiators’ is misleading. Negotiation ended in 2023; what remains is implementation: restoring democracy, securing electoral justice, and delivering reforms. Dr. Kaifala Marah, like many others, may contribute to the ongoing implementation phase. But let us be clear: implementation is collective and institutional, not individual. No one can ‘replace’ a negotiator after negotiations are finished. To suggest otherwise is to mislead the public and trivialize the sacrifices of our people. Suggesting otherwise distorts the timeline, undermines confidence in the ANU, and trivializes the sacrifices of citizens and the work already done.
Powerful officials continue to push a narrative that “all is well” or that the nation should simply move on, but Sierra Leoneans refuse to accept comforting lies. We have endured two years of misleading information and broken promises surrounding the election and its aftermath. A much-heralded AU/ECOWAS Tripartite Committee “peace” agreement in 2023 was supposed to address the impasse, yet critics say it became a political arrangement rather than true justice for voters. Key recommendations – such as auditing results and reforming the ECSL – were either implemented half- heartedly or ignored, even as the ruling regime claimed “unity” was achieved. In reality, no genuine unity materialized: opposition voices were “muzzled, rallies are state- sponsored, and independent protest is forbidden,” despite the Agreement for National Unity. The Bio administration’s public relations offensive cannot hide the truth: Sierra Leone remains deeply divided over the unresolved election dispute.
Worse, top leadership’s own words have undercut any pretense of democratic goodwill. At a rally in Bo, Mr. Bio reportedly declared that even if it were proven he lost the election, “nobody and nothing… can make [him] give up power,” vowing to meet any challenge “bullet for bullet.” Such rhetoric – essentially promising to entrench power by force regardless of voters’ choice – spreads fear and mistrust. It tells citizens that the rule of law and their ballots mean little. This is the backdrop against which Dr. Samura’s removal is now unfolding. For many, it feels like the last prominent figure willing to contest the 2023 outcome has been sidelined, while those in power continue to act with impunity. If the ECSL and ruling authorities persist in hiding data and dodging accountability, democracy in Sierra Leone will remain a charade.
People Over Politics: The Real Issues at Stake – SLAM-GLOBAL reminds all leaders: the foundation of any democracy is the people’s welfare and trust – not personalities, not party logos. Our Movement’s own motto is “Trust, Unity and Social Justice,” and these principles must guide Sierra Leone out of this quagmire. The real opposition in Sierra Leone today is not one man or one party; it is the suffering of the people versus the empty posturing of elites. As one frustrated citizen observed, politicians trade places in Freetown while ordinary people struggle for their “daily bread and butter.” We will not allow legitimate grievances to be buried beneath a power struggle.
Look at the facts: Nearly 60% of our youth (ages 15-35) are unemployed. Over a quarter of citizens live in extreme poverty, unable to afford basic meals. After the elections, inflation spiked above 50%, decimating household buying power. Today, a bag of rice or a gallon of fuel is a luxury; families are skipping meals, and desperation is rising. Meanwhile, corruption and lawlessness fester: multi-million dollar scandals and nepotism at the highest levels go unpunished, and hundreds of citizens from opposition strongholds remain detained without charge for protesting this state of affairs. These are the “salient and germane” issues that suffering Sierra Leoneans are passionate about – not which politician chairs which party. The people demand solutions and justice, not musical chairs among the powerful.
Every day that the truth of the 2023 vote is swept under the rug is another day of lost economic focus and continuing injustice. We cannot rebuild our nation on lies. If the foundation of government is faulty, nothing lasting can stand. Sierra Leoneans vividly remember the deadly protest of August 2022 where citizens were met with bullets for decrying economic hardship. We remember the international visa sanctions that followed the controversial elections, abruptly snatching away students’ dreams of studying abroad. Our country’s international reputation is plummeting; even as Sierra Leone assumed the chair of ECOWAS, we were conspicuously sidelined on the world stage – excluded from key summits and investment opportunities, a stark reminder that political instability carries a steep price.
A Call for Transparency, Accountability, and Inclusive Dialogue: Sierra Leone demands a new path forward – one defined by honesty and inclusion rather than deception and exclusion. Consistency matters to our partners. Talk of ‘replacing negotiators’ raises doubts about APC’s cohesion and its commitment to the process. This weakens Sierra Leone’s leverage to hold the Bio administration accountable and risks the credibility we need with international donors. Institutions like the IMF, World Bank, and EU require verified governance metrics to sustain aid. If Sierra Leone cannot produce credible election data, international support may be stalled or conditional. Electoral Justice is not abstract; it is about bread, rice, and medicine for ordinary Sierra Leoneans. SLAM- GLOBAL, together with civil society allies, calls for immediate, concrete actions to address the crisis at its core:
” Full Electoral Transparency: The Electoral Commission must immediately publish all polling station results from the 2023 elections and open its data to independent forensic audit. Only truth can close this chapter. If the official victory is genuine, it should withstand scrutiny; if not, the people have the right to know. Going forward, all elections should be monitored by credible observers with real- time result publication to prevent fraud.
” Electoral Justice & Rule of Law: We demand the judiciary and law enforcement impartially investigate and prosecute any and all election-related fraud or violence. The constitutional breaches – from illegal appointment of election officials to “boundary manipulations” done without due process – must be addressed, not repeated. Sierra Leone’s 1991 Constitution and the ECOWAS Protocol on Good Governance both insist on free, fair, transparent elections; these are not optional ideals but binding obligations.
” Release of Political Detainees & Restoration of Rights: All citizens arrested for peaceful protests or on politically-motivated pretenses must be freed at once, as was promised in the post-election peace agreement. The Bio administration should also immediately pay elected opposition officials the salaries and allowances owed to them – funds unjustly withheld during the stalemate. Repressive measures (bans on protests, intimidation of media and civil society) have no place in a “democratic” Sierra Leone. We insist on an end to the politics of fear.
” Economic Rescue for the People: Address the bread-and-butter issues now. We urge an emergency national plan to combat runaway inflation (52% at last measure) – including subsidies or price controls on essential goods, and a halt to any new taxes fueling price hikes. Use the national budget to create jobs for youth through labor-intensive public works and support for farmers and local businesses. Cut wasteful spending and curb corruption so that resources actually reach the people. Empty slogans about prosperity mean nothing when families cannot afford food.
” Inclusive National Dialogue and Reforms: Unity cannot be decreed from State House – it must be built with all voices at the table. We call for a truly inclusive national dialogue that goes beyond the ruling party and a few opposition elites. Bring in youth leaders, women’s groups, religious and traditional authorities, civil society, and yes, the opposition rank-and-file. No stakeholder should be excluded from shaping solutions. This dialogue must directly confront the root causes of our crisis – electoral malpractice, constitutional breaches, economic mismanagement, and corruption – and result in a time-bound roadmap to address each of them. International partners (ECOWAS, African Union, UN, etc.) should facilitate and witness this process to ensure commitments are kept.
Standing Firm for Sierra Leone’s Future: Most importantly, focusing on personalities distracts from the real questions Sierra Leoneans demand answers to: Why has the ECSL still not published the polling-station results of June 2023? Why are 303 detainees unaccounted for? Why has there been no accountability for the August 2022 and 2023 killings? These are the truths that matter to the people. A ceremonial title cannot substitute for credible data, justice for the missing, and accountability for the dead. Sierra Leoneans must not be distracted by semantics about replacements. The real battle is not about who holds a ceremonial title but about whether the ECSL will release the polling- station results, whether justice will be delivered for the 303 missing detainees, and whether the truth of the 2023 elections will ever be told.
SLAM-GLOBAL reaffirms that we stand on the foundation of trust, unity, and social justice in all our advocacy. These values – proclaimed in our every letter and address – are the pillars upon which genuine national reconciliation must be built. We categorically reject any “unity” gestures that are merely public relations stunts. The recent closed-door meetings and leadership shake-ups mean nothing if they fail to deliver truth or relief to the people. As we bluntly ask: “Strip away the press releases, the staged handshakes… What remains?”. Today in Sierra Leone, behind the political theatrics, people are still waiting for the truth about their votes. A nation burdened by corruption, poverty, and fear still struggles to see hope. These realities cannot be papered over with slogans or new party figureheads.
To the people of Sierra Leone, we say: remain courageous and united. Your insistence on accountability is not in vain. Change often begins in darkness before the dawn. Do not let despair take root – your voices are heard, and together we will ensure they are acted upon. To the APC and SLPP leadership, we say: do not treat Sierra Leoneans as pawns in a game of musical chairs. Whether you are in government or opposition, you are public servants of the people first. Embrace the winds of change by heeding the people’s legitimate demands, or face irrelevance as the nation moves forward without you.
Finally, to our International Partners – ECOWAS, the African Union, the Commonwealth, the United Nations, and democratic governments around the world – we appeal for principled support. Many of you expressed “concern” over the lack of transparency in 2023; it is now time to match words with action. Stand with the people of Sierra Leone in calling for the release of the truth and the restoration of constitutional order. We urge you to support a people-centered transition that honours our Constitution and the hard-won gains of our democracy. The resilience of Sierra Leoneans is strong – from the youth battling unemployment to the mothers striving to feed their families – and we will not accept a future defined by fraud, repression, and stagnation.
For APC and SLPP supporters and indeed all Sierra Leoneans who feel disenfranchised, know this: your struggle has not been diminished. Dr. Samura’s contribution is sealed in history, and it cannot be erased. What matters now is pressing forward with electoral justice, credible data, and reforms that honor your sacrifice.
The message from Sierra Leone’s streets and villages is clear: We demand real democracy, real accountability, and real leadership that puts country over self. No more lies. No more stolen elections. No more cosmetic politics. It is time to return power to the true owners – the people. We at SLAM-GLOBAL, guided by the hopes and pain of our fellow citizens, will continue to speak truth to power and fight for a Sierra Leone that rises from despair to destiny.
P.S. We invite you to explore our recently published analysis in a book, “Building a Nation: Good Governance and Democratic Principles in Sierra Leone.” As we unite for change in 2025, this resource provides valuable insights for activists, policymakers, and concerned citizens committed to Sierra Leone’s transformation. Find it here: link.
Signed By:
Dr. Alfred A. Veenod Fullah
DIRECTOR-GENERAL
CC:
” Office of the Chairman, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
” Office of the President of Sierra Leone
” Office of the Vice President of Sierra Leone
” Speaker of the Sierra Leone House of Parliament
” Office of the Chief Minister of the Government of Sierra Leone
” Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL)
” Inspector General of Sierra Leone Police
” Chief of Defence Staff, Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF)
” Office of National Security, Sierra Leone
” Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion
” Leonardo Santos Simao, Representative of the Secretary-General & Head of UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS)
” African Union (AU)
” Amnesty International
” Marco Rubio, United States Secretary of State
” Vice President, Congressional and Public Affairs
” The Commonwealth Secretary-General
” Karim Ahmad Khan, Chief Prosecutor, International Criminal Court (ICC)
” Richard YOUNG, Chief de Division, Afrique de l’Ouest
” Ms. Ursula Von Der Lyen, European Commissioner
” The United Nations Representative in Sierra Leone
” H. E. Oumar Touray, President of ECOWAS Commission
” Madam Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang, former VP of The Gambia
” H.E Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
” H.E John Dramani Mahama, President of Ghana
” H. E. Bassiru Faye, President of Senegal
” H.E Adama Barro, President of The Gambia
” H.E. Mamadi Doumbouya, President of Guinea
” H.E. Joseph Boakai, President of Liberia
” H.E Alassane Ouattara, President of Ivory Coast
” H.E Jean-Lucien Savi de Tove, President of the Togolese Republic
” David Lammy, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth & Dev Affairs, UK
” Neil Alan John Coyle, MP for Bermondsey & Old Southwark, UK
” Ambassador Aly Diallo, Ambassador of the Republic of Guinea to the UK&I
” Ambassador Mohammad Maidugu, Acting High Commissioner of Nigeria in the UK&I
” Her Excellency Dr Fatou Bensouda, Head of Mission, The Gambia high Commission, UK&I
” H.E Fatimata Dia, Ambassador of Senegal to the UK&I
” H.E Gurly T. Gibson-Schwarz, Ambassador of Liberia to the UK&I
” Her Excellency Josephine Gauld, British High Commissioner to Sierra Leone
” Ambassador of the United States of America to Sierra Leone
” Head of the European Union Delegation in Sierra Leone
” General Consul of Canada in Sierra Leone
” Ambassador of China to Sierra Leone
” Ambassador of Germany to Sierra Leone
” Ambassador of Lebanon to Sierra Leone
” Ambassador of Iran to Sierra Leone
” Ambassador of Brazil to Sierra Leone
” Ambassador of Sweden to Sierra Leone
” Ambassador of Libya to Sierra Leone
” Ambassador of Egypt to Sierra Leone
” Ambassador of Cuba to Sierra Leone
” Ambassador of Guinea to Sierra Leone
” Ambassador of Liberia to Sierra Leone
” High Commissioner of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Sierra Leone
” High Commissioner of Ghana to Sierra Leone
” High Commissioner of The Gambia to Sierra Leone
” General Consul of Italy in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul-General of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul-General of Ireland in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul-General of Japan in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul-General of India to Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of Senegal in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of Switzerland in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of Syria in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of Turkey in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of Mali in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of Ukraine in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of Romania in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of Norway in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of Hungary in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of France in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of Belgium in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of The Netherlands in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of Spain in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of Serbia in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of Austria in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of Denmark in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of Russia in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of Malaysia in Sierra Leone
” Honorary Consul of South Africa in Sierra Leone
” Civil Society Movement – Sierra Leone (CSM – SL)
” Media Reform Coordinating Group of Sierra Leone (MRCG)
” Sierra Leone Association of Non-Governmental Organizations (SLANGO)
” Civil rights Defenders – Sierra Leone
” National Elections Watch (NEW) – Sierra Leone
” Campaign for Good Governance (CGG) – Sierra Leone
” Women’s Forum – Sierra Leone
” Network Movement for Justice and Development (NMJD)
” Sierra Leone Legal Aid Board
” Faith-Based and Interfaith Organizations – (Interreligious Council of Sierra Leone)
” Council of Churches in Sierra Leone (CCSL)
” Fourah Bay College – University of Sierra Leone
” Institute of Governance Reform (IGR)
” Youth Partnership for Peace and Development (YPPD)
” Children’s Forum Network
” Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) – Sierra Leone
” Awoko Newspaper – Sierra Leone
” Liberty TV Online – Sierra Leone
” Radio Democracy 98.1 FM Station – Sierra Leone
” The New York Times
” The Washington Post
” The USA Today
” The Cable News Network (CNN)
” The MicroSoft National Broadcast Corporation (MSNBC)
” The Fox News
” The Associated Press
” Thomson Reuters
” The National Public Radio (NPR)
” The Brookings Institution
” The Heritage Foundation
” The Center For American Progress
” The National Association For The Advancement Of Colored People (NAACP)
” The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
” The MoveOn
” The Democratic National Committee
” The Republican National Committee
” The EMILY’s List
” The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
” The Sky News
” Al Jazeera
” The Independent Television (ITV)
” The Times
” The Financial Times
” The Guardian
” The Daily Telegraph