A big question mark hangs on June-24 elections owing to widespread political violence in Sierra Leone. Although pockets of violence occur in some parts of the North-West regions, it is in the South-East that more violence routinely takes place. Sierra Leoneans were again stunned and shocked on the burning of the APC (All People’s Congress) office in the Southern city, Bo amid campaigns for the June-24 presidential and parliamentary elections.
The building belongs to one of APC’s long-standing and firebrand female politicians, Cecilia Ngobeh. Everyone was pissed off at the incident passed off. Reports reaching this press confirmed that four people were trapped in the building, but fatality is yet to be reported. As usual, the police were helpless as the National Fire Force (NFF) agency. The NFF could not put off the flames and the police are yet to go after the arsonists who are said to be supporters of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP).
As of now, no arrest has been made in connection to the burning. Even if the police have what it takes to nab the offenders, fears of government reprisals hold them back. A police officer can be sacked for arresting and investigating an SLPP supporter. Many Sierra Leoneans have attributed the political violence to statements of senior politicians who are opposed to APC campaigns in the South-East regions, SLPPP strongholds. Quite recently, First Lady, Fatima Bio called on South-Easterners not to allow APC politicians to campaign in the South-East regions, a move that did not go down well with peace-loving Sierra Leoneans.
Her husband, President Bio too continues to hit hard on former President Ernest Bai Koroma who, he accused, of sponsoring the social media ventriloquist, Abdul Will Kamara aka Adebayor to incite violence in the country.
In most of his campaigns, Bio minced no word telling his supporters that he reduce the former President to nothing if he does not keep hands off on Sierra Leone’s politics. Bio also called on the former President as well as the APC Presidential Candidate, Dr Samura Kamara to dissociate themselves from Adebayor.
However, no evidence has shown that Koroma and Kamara have links with Adebayor. Former President Ernest Bai Koroma however does not tread Bio’s path. As a man who has worked for peace for decades turned to to the international community to save Sierra Leone from the relapse to another violence. Mr Koroma, few days ago, issued a press release calling on the international community to act and the time is now.
Other local organisations have also condemned Bio’s action towards the former President.
National Federation for Human Rights (NFHR) is one of those organisations that have criticised President Bio and his wife for their uncomplimentary statements against the former President. “The National Federation for Human Rights (NFHR) condemns Julius Maada Bio’s threats to former President Ernest Bai Koroma and the APC party as the country approaches June-24 elections. NFHR is disturbed by the incessant threat and impulse made by President Julius Maada Bio and his wife towards former President Ernest Koroma,” a press release of 18th June, 2023 reads. The duo’s utterances, the press release noted, will undermine Sierra Leone’s peace and democratic processes.
The NFHR takes reminds President Bio of the crucial nature of the coming elections. “Bear in mind the crucial nature of the 24th June 2023 presidential, parliamentary and local council elections. Thus, the unwarranted threats uttered to the former President and the opposition party by the incumbent President Julius Maada Bio have heightened political tension and increased mistrust over the conduct of the forthcoming election,” a portion of the press release reads.
The arson on Ngobeh’s house is not the first notable incident in the Southern headquarters. Burning of houses and government buildings has been a usual scenery in the South-East regions.
Thugs linked to SLPP set APC office on fire in 2008 during Koroma’ presidency. House of the Regional Chairman, Sheik Sillah was also burned to ground level. A senior APC member, Lagaisy Sankoh’s house was also targetted, but was saved by the army from the 5th Brigade based in Bo. Sankoh too enjoyed respite only when the army came to his rescue.
Erstwhile APC Chairlady in Bo district, Zainab Mansaray was also physically assaulted. She was occasioned serious injuries for which she was flown to Ghana for medical treatment. All these forms of brutality took place in a day. In defence of their actions, SLPP supporters told journalists that a missile hit their candidate President Bio whose party, SLPP was the main opposition at that time.
Accusing fingers were pointed at APC members of injuring the SLPP candidate although there was no evidence to support their claim. Those arrested in respect of the arson were unconditionally released and warned to keep the peace. Former President Koroma showed statesmanship and magnanimity to SLPP by ensuring that no SLPP office across the country was set ablaze.
Former President Koroma issued orders to police and army high commands to guard SLPP offices. This move transformed former President Koroma overnight into global icon of democracy. Today, the burning of houses and other forms of political violence continue to showcase in Sierra Leone’s political landscape, a situation that has relegated the country’s democracy to the dustbin. The latest brutality follows a number of brutal protests that the country has seen quite lately for suspected electoral irregularities.
The police and the protesters were at each other’s throat few days ago. Makeni, the Northeastern regional capital is slowly degenerated into an almost 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. Speaking from a locked bedroom, he said no business went on in Makeni, and signs of life returning to normalcy were non-existent. Another resident, Foday Mansaray and other residents told similar stories of violent clashes.
Mansaray even called on government to send foreign troops to secure the Northern city. It remains unclear whether government would respond to the distress call. It is also reported that massive arrest of protesters has taken place in Makeni, and many are in detention. PortLoko, the Northwestern regional capital also saw similar violence.
A resident there, Saidu Bangura told Nightwatch that a protester had been hit by a bullet. The victim, he said, had been conveyed to the hospital responding to medical treatment and the Regional Police Commander there is footing the bill. In PortLoko, those arrested have been released as protesters threatened to go on the rampage if they continued to hold them in cells. Head of OSD (Operations Support Division), Assistant Inspector General of Police, Francis Tawa was also threatened.
Ex-fighters demand that either Mr Tawa withdrew his armed personnel from the streets or face attacks. The latest incident in Makeni showcased hypocrisy of President Julius Maada Bio who assured the international community that no shot would be fired during the protest.
The caretaker President recently made it clear that he would not kill again, and the political space had been opened to all and sundry. Every citizen, he said, was free to participate in politics.
But, security forces still continue their usual crackdown on defenceless civilians in various parts of the country. Makeni city has always been a flashpoint of 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 held for high cost of living for which Sierra Leone is known at the moment.
Makeni city also saw bloodbath in July, 2020 when youth resisted the removal of a thermal plant there.
20 residents were gunned down, but official account indicated six as the figure of casualties.
Intermittent waves of violence in APC strongholds are not uncommon even before the protest. APC members and supporters are targetted for violence especially in the Southern and eastern regions, heartlands of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party.
Dozens of APC (All People’s Congress) supporters are at various health facilities in Pujehun after waves of brutal attacks quite recently. The attacks came after approximately 500 women declared for APC as they wait to have the first First Lady in history.
Chairperson for APC in Pujehun confirmed to this press, in an interview, that the matter was reported to the police for investigation. “The matter is now in the hands of the police, and they are now investigating,” she said.
Those attacked, she went on, had been responding to medical treatment, but were yet to be discharged. The APC chairperson promised to furnish this press with more details as events unfold.
Information reaching this press show that a good chunk of those who declared were members of the ruling party, a move other SLPP members would not put up with especially when it took place in one of their traditional strongholds. June 24 election is expected to be the hottest and most controversial in history.
It decides whether SLPP would be the first party to rule for one term since the introduction of multi-party democracy in Sierra Leone in 99
It is clear that SLPP is not ready to make such sad history, and their members will stop at nothing to ensure victory for their party in the June polls. It is their hope that brutalising their fellow brothers and sisters is the only way to bring them back to their party. It is also not yet clear whether the attacks have died down or will continue until mission accomplished.
Declaration for the APC by strong and influential women in the Southern district means a devastating blow for the ruling party. For years gone by, Pujehun is a traditional stronghold of SLPP, a party known to several generations of Wanjamarians. The physical assaults do not stop in pujehun; they take place in other parts of South-East regions.
Quite recently, APC supporters were targetted for political violence in Koinadugu district in the North of Sierra Leone. A reliable source in the Northern district said SLPP supporters attacked APC members in an open confrontation. The attacks, according to a source, came after the NGC (National Grand Coalition) Chairman in Koinadugu declared for the APC alongside other members.
Teargas canisters and live rounds were fired by police in what appeared a restoration of order.
As the firing ensued, residents in Koinadugu spent the day in locked rooms to escape the heat and smoke of the canisters. It was also reported that some APC supporters were arrested and detained. No fatality however was neither detected nor reported, but ears were kept to the ground. Similar political violence also took place in Bonthe district in the South where APC members were also allegedly physically attacked.
A former APC councillor, Daddy Avondor said they were assaulted by SLPP supporters while canvassing voters. One of their supporters, he went on, was also arrested and detained at the police station.
However, no SLPP member or supporter was arrested although they were accused of perpetrating the violence. Avondor further explained that he and other APC executive officials tried very hard to secure the release of their colleague, but police refused to grant bail citing “order from above.”
He showed how frustrating it was on that day. “Our APC supporters were attacked and injured, but none of the perpetrators was arrested. Instead, the APC supporters who were victims of the assault were threatened and intimidated by the police,” the APC councillor Lamented. Since the police did not grant bail to the APC detainee, Avondor went on, they returned home peacefully without embarking on any reprisal attacks.
In the following morning, APC officials went again to the police station and negotiated bail, and suspect was released on strict conditions. Although the police appeared to have been partial in their duty, APC members however put up with the situation for the sake of peace.
However, the Bonthe district APC executive called on government, the international community (EU, AU, ECOWAS, US, UK etc) to closely monitor actions of the police before, during and after the elections since police unprofessionalism is fuelling political tension in almost every part of the country. Few days ago, Tonkolili district in the Northern region, was also subjected to political violence for which accusing fingers were pointed at members of the ruling party.
The Police were also accused of dragging their feet to arrest the SLPP supporters and bring them to justice. Their negligence made some disgruntled men to dash for the police station forcing police officers to seek haven elsewhere. The chaos had recently died down, but deep grudge remains.
In a seeming collusion with the attackers, President Bio and his team have condemned none of the attacks.