Dr. Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai Esq, Chairman of the Special Investigative Committee (SIC) that was established to conduct investigations into the dastardly events of August 8th, 9th and 10th 2022 and give a comprehensive Report , has cautioned Diplomats and others serving within the International Community to be very mindful of what they say in public especially during particularly volatile situations in any host country.
He gave that caution on April 13th 2023 as he handed over their Special Investigation Committee Report to H.E. President Dr. Julius Maada Bio at State House.
Dr. Abdulai noted that the International Community, particularly the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Association and Assembly, was sending conflicting messages that inflamed and aggravated the situation, adding that protesters used their tweets to claim that the international community was in support of the action to remove the sitting Government.
“Several tweets and audio files from the protesters support these claims. This gives the impression that the International Community supports the protesters’ actions, despite the fact that the State was almost under siege. This goes against the international jurisprudence, which provides that the survival of the State takes precedence over rights during emergencies”.
“The Government and its International partners should not be seen publicly disagreeing in a crisis situation of the magnitude of August 8–10,” Saffa Abdulai has warned.
