Three days after Sierra Leoneans demonstrated in England and the US against President Julius Maada Bio, another waves of protests will take place in Belgium this Monday. The protesters will assemble at the EU parliament in the Belgian capital of Brussels where a letter will be tendered to European law makers drawing their attention to the current political situation in Sierra Leone.
The next demonstration will take place in the Dutch capital, the Hague. Almost invariably, demonstrators will also converge at the ICC (International Criminal Court) building where a letter will be submitted to judicial officials about gross human rights abuses that have taken place under President Bio’s leadership.
No date for the Hague’s protest has been slated but will not take too long. The demonstrations will send a strong message to the international community that the people of Sierra Leone no longer need Bio as President who they see as one exercising a “stolen mandate.”
Protesters in London and Washington DC took similar actions last Monday.
Monday’s protest reached Downing Street, the Official residence of the British Prime Minister who received a letter from the protesters who were assured by the British government that action was sure to come.
Like Downing Street, White House also got a correspondence from the protesters detailing Sierra Leone’s uncertain political future if the gridlock continues. June-24 presidential and parliamentary elections left Sierra Leone at crossroads as Bio still holds power in spite of his defeat in the ballot box.
APC (All People’s Congress)’s presidential candidate, Samura Kamara who reportedly won the election could not form a government as the incumbent candidate still remains President although he leads a government that is not recognised by the international community. Bio, few days, ago appointed ministers and senior officers who were approved by the one-party parliament, and these officers, will however, run the new government although isolated by the community of nations.
EU, AU and ECOWAS parliaments do not recognise Sierra Leone parliament until it is fixed.
EU as well ECOWAS Parliamentary delegations have promised to visit Sierra Leone to end the stalemate.
Their approach remains unclear, but the only solution Sierra Leoneans will embrace is Bio stepping aside since he is not the winner of the June elections.
Many see his occupation of Office of the President is unconstitutional.
The winner, Samura Kamara is currently being prevailed upon by high profile personalities to accept the result and work with President Bio, a move he has rejected outright owing to threats by party members and supporters.
Should he accept, it will be the second time, in a row, that the APC candidate will endorse and legitimise Bio’s leadership without winning elections.
It is still a popular argument throughout Bio’s leadership that he did not win 2018 presidential elections.
He was installed President only to save the country’s peace which, many say, he has shattered through divisive rule.
The people of Sierra Leone, for a long time, have wanted to see Bio out of power but the love of democracy keeps him there.
They waited to vote him out but their plan was aborted as Bio forced his way through relying on the army and the police.
At this moment, it is clear that it is only the language of protest that the people should speak within and outside Sierra Leone.
The protests will not end in London, Washington, Brussels and the Hague but will be replicated in Sierra Leone.
Reliable sources have intimated this press that nationwide protests will be staged soon to ensure that ECSL (Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone) produces credible results.
Bio has six months from June to conduct fresh elections without Mohamed Kenewui Konneh who many see as an SLPP hardliner who is more ‘PAOPA’ than Bio.
Protests upon protests before June elections, the people have spoken their minds against the Bio regime.
The protests differed in degree and scale of violence.
Although it is peaceful in some p parts of the country, the situation is not the same in Makeni, the Northeastern regional capital where situation degenerated to a near all-out conflict between security forces and the protesters.
A resident in Makeni, Idrissa Kamara told this press that scenes of violent encounters took place between forces of law and order and the civilians.
“I was in my bedroom when I saw security forces running after the protesters, and others were injured,” Kamara told this press via mobile phone. He said no business went on in Makeni, and signs of life returning to normalcy are non-existent. Another resident, Foday Mansaray told similar stories of violent clashes.
It is also reported that indiscriminate arrest of protesters took place in Makeni, and many are in detention. PortLoko, the Northwestern regional capital also saw similar violence as residents protested against Bio. A resident there, Saidu Bangura told Nightwatch that a protester was hit by a bullet, and the victim rushed to the hospital.
The scale of brutality brought about instant warning to head of OSD (Operations Support Division), the armed wing of the police.
Assistant Inspector General of Police, Francis Tawa was warned to withdraw his riflemen from the scene of protest.
The killings during the protest showcases Bio’s hypocrisy who assured the international community that he would not kill again….
But, security forces carried out their usual crackdown on defenceless civilians. Makeni city has always been a flashpoint for police brutality since Bio took over power in April, 2018.
Scenes of police killings were widespread in the Northern capital during August 10, 2022 demonstrations which were held against the high cost of living for which Sierra Leone is known at the moment.
Similar protests also took place in different parts of the country including Freetown, and government’s response always is lethal.
Without doubt, police will also not hesitate to come down hard to stop the protests that are about to descend on Sierra Leone.