After 15 Days Self-Isolation… President Bio Resumes Work Today

May 6, 2020

By Amin Kef Sesay

It was reliably learnt that President Julius Maada Bio, his family and close aides have all tested negative for the coronavirus, according to presidential spokesman, Keketoma Sandy. Keketoma assured that the President would resume work from his office on Wednesday, the 6^th May 2020 at the end of the three-day lockdown.

The President had been working from home throughout the period after one of his guards tested positive for the Covid19.has intimated that after his fifteen-day self-isolation period, all tests for coronavirus proved negative. “I am very healthy and determined as ever to fight this Corona pandemic in Sierra Leone,” he said in a tweet.

President Bio entered self-isolation after a bodyguard of his tested positive for the virus.

According to what was also learnt the President has directed the military to immediately deploy to the international airport and land crossing points in order to enhance security and support compliance with all public health directives advisories.

The country yesterday ended a three day nationwide lockdown which was imposed by the First Gentleman to contain community transmission of the virus. The case statistics as of May 5 were as follows: 199 confirmed cases, 11 deaths and 43 recoveries.

Prior to the lockdown the President said “epidemiological data and other evidence” indicated that “there is community transmission of the virus.”

In an earlier nationwide address he said the Government decided “to intensify contact tracing and detection; scale up testing and isolation and expand treatment.”

President Maada Bio becomes the second known African leader to self-isolate, the first being Botswana President Eric Masisi who self-isolated after attending an inauguration ceremony in Namibia. At the time his country was uninfected while Namibia had recorded three cases.

It could be recalled that, in March, twenty-four hours after confirming an index case, Sierra Leone announced a second case which involved a medical doctor with no links to the first patient. Both cases were registered in the capital, Freetown.

On Wednesday April 1, authorities announced the first three-day nationwide lockdown as a containment measure against the spread of the virus. Defence Minister and National COVID19 Coordinator, Brig (Rtd) Kellie Conteh announced that coming Sunday, Monday & Tuesday (April 4 – 6) are stay-at-home days.

When the country was Virus-free Government announced closure of its borders for a 30-day period barely days after President Julius Maada Bio announced a state of public health emergency.

According to reports, the measure was to keep out the coronavirus which has engulfed all of West Africa except for Sierra Leone. The country tested two cases which turned out to be negative. The border closures came in the wake of same action taken by neighbouring Guinea and Liberia. Guinea President Alpha Conde declared a state of emergency on for 30-days over the virus.

The closure was for a renewable period of 30 days excepting cargo vehicles which will be limited to two apprentices & a driver. They’ll be subjected to a 14-day surveillance by both countries on entry and exit.

All learning institutions & entertainment centers have been closed, as have churches & mosques. All cultural events have been prohibited.

Liberia is currently in a lockdown over the pandemic. The three countries were at the heart of the Ebola epidemic that killed thousands years ago.

Aftermath of Tombo Riot… Police Mounts Man-Hunt For APC Youths

May 6, 2020

By Samuel Kargbo

Reports reaching this medium has revealed that the Sierra Leone Police has mounted a man-hunt for some 5 youths believed to be behind the riot that took place in the Western Rural fishing village of Tombo, a known stronghold of the opposition party, on Wednesday 6^th May 2020, in which some 7 people were shot dead by a combined team of military and police officers.

According to the police, these youths are said to be members of the main opposition’s (APC) Zone 5 area, and are believed to have masterminded the riot that took place in Tombo. They are all youths living on fishing in the village. Our investigations revealed that the riot was as a result of directives given by the government that out of a total of over 100 fishing boats in the village, only 15 boats should go out to fish, as part of the COVID-19 containment measures.

This action, it was revealed, infuriated the fishermen, and after efforts in engaging the district authorities to increase the number of boats proved futile, they then embarked on a peaceful protest in the village. During the said protest, the aggrieved fishermen matched up to the residence of the district officials and the Police station, in a bid to register their discontent.

Sources say that the protest turned violent when some irate youths joined in the procession, and these then threw stones at the police station, leading to a request by the Local Unit Commander in the area for support from Waterloo, its divisional headquarter. It was revealed that a team of military and police officers descended on the village, joined by youths believed to be supporters of the ruling party, and an all-out running battle between the youths and the security forces ensued, in which road blocks were set up by the angry youths of the village.

The security forces then resorted to the use of a barrage of tear gas canisters and live bullets, killing some 7 people and making some arrests. Backed by ruling party youths, the armed security officers then stormed the houses of residents in search of alleged perpetrators of the violence, using a list of names of alleged perpetrators provided by the Sherbro Tribal Chief for Western Area Rural, Michael K. Benka, a known supporter of the ruling party. Among the names were Alpha Kamara, Mohamed I. Sesay and others. It was also disclosed by eye witnesses that some youths were arrested and taken away, whilst others are said to be on the run.

Public Relations Officer of the police, Superintendent Brima Kamara, told this medium that the incident happened in the morning, and that “some guys came from the wharf and attacked the station. They were told only fifteen boats should head out to fish. This made some of them aggrieved and decided to go on a rampage, We cannot confirm the death toll, nor the number of those arrested, at the moment. The investigation is ongoing to verify those claims of death.” He furthered that some of the alleged perpetrators are now in police custody, but that a few others have escaped and are being sought after by the police, with the help of some youths and the tribal authority.

Our source furthered that as the search for the escaped youths continued, a curfew was declared in the village to discourage gathering, with members of the Sierra Leone Police, (SLP) Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) and the Operational Support Division (OSD), the armed wing of the SLP, patrolling the streets of the village. All fishing boats were grounded. It was also disclosed that the security forces targeted youths who were active members of the opposition, including one Mohamed I Seasy, an opposition party agent.

Some villagers spoken to, say that the arrival of the security forces aggravated the whole situation, as they descended menacingly, and things took a different turn when they began to storm residence, beating up opposition party youths and young men in front of their families, shooting down doors of houses, and injuring inmates.

One youth, displaying a bullet wound on his back, alleged that an OSD (armed wing of the police) in the company of some soldiers shot them in their house, and this was replicated across the village, resulting in more violence, as youths began to defend their families. The security forces are said to have been firing indiscriminately at people, and many are said to have been wounded by gunshots.

It was also revealed that those youths who escaped were attacked at their homes by the police, and managed to escape through the help of other youths, who came to their rescue. This, it was further revealed, was due to the list given to them by the tribal headman of the village, who merely wrote down the names of active party youths of the opposition party in the village, among whom was Mohamed i. Sesay, a young man and an agent of the APC, residing at Wharf Road.

Speaking to a family member of Mohamed I Sesay, they informed this medium that they were attacked by armed police and Mohamed managed to escape through an open window at the back of the house, pursued by the armed men. They explained that they saw the men enter a nearby bush, where Mohamed had entered and heard gunshots, but do not know whether Mohamed had been killed, and up to the time of going to press his whereabouts and that of the other youths are unknown, and they are feared dead.

Eye witnesses have also corroborated the story of this family and many others. They further explained that the Sherbro Tribal Chief, Michael K. Benka, is a known ruling party member, and that he gave a list of youths known to be opposition party activists in the village, whom he described as the ring leaders of the riot, to the police. It was also disclosed that this was the list that the security forces relied on to go about arresting people during the curfew and targeted homes of known opposition activists. Many youths were arrested violently, with some suffering gunshot wounds and taken to the station in Waterloo and Freetown, often without medical attention.

After video footage of wounded victims were shown on social media, youths, including female business people with gunshot wounds, were then taken to the hospitals.

Police sources say that they have mounted a man-hunt for Mohamed I Sesay and others and have declared them wanted and a bounty put on their heads for any information that would lead to their arrest.

As we go to press, family members of Mohamed have confirmed to us that they are constantly under police harassment and threat, and the whereabouts of Mohamed I Sesay is still unknown, and feared dead.

CAER-SL Organizes online National Essay & Poetry Competition 2020

May 4, 2020

By Foday Moriba Conteh

In order for students to exercise their calligraphic abilities in inking sound write-ups that can also be used by state and non-state actors in addressing the challenges that the coronavirus poses and the post impact of the virus, the Centre for Academic Excellence and Research, (CAER-SL) is now poised to host its National Essay & Poetry Competition 2020 on the theme: “My Role in the Fight Against Covid-19”.

To adhere to the preventive measure that Government and its partners have put in place the competition will be focused on online.

Speaking to this medium, the Programs Manager of Centre for Academic Excellence and Research, Alex A. Bah disclosed that since the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus as a pandemic it has seriously hampered all major spheres of society globally and has affected all fabric of society, adding that however, with past experiences of the Ebola outbreak that affected many students and left a number of girls pregnant, it’s of paramount essence to seek out effective means to academically engage their mental faculties.

It is against such a backdrop, they therefore planned the event to galvanize students to exercise their calligraphic abilities in inking sound write-ups that can also be used by state and non-state actors in addressing the challenges posed by the virus.

He said that with almost all attention by both Government and non-governmental institutions focused on sensitization on covid-19 and other laudable mechanisms to curb the spread of the virus, it gives them motivation and befit them to direct their energies in squeezing out the brilliance in future leaders.

Alex A. Bah further disclosed that as in compliance with the stringent measures by the Government of Sierra Leone to maintain social distancing, the official launching was done via the media (TV, radio, and social media handle).

He called for entries for Essays by secondary school pupils on the topic “The Role of Parents and Pupils in the Fight Against COVID 19”, and for university/college students; “Impact of COVID 19 on the International Political Economy”, Which should be sent via info.caesl@gmail.com. He added that the Essays for the senior school and university categories should be not less than 450 and 1000 words respectively. Bah also stated that the topic for the poetry competition is “COVID 19” which remains the same for both secondary schools and universities/colleges respectively and that all entries will close on the 27 May, 2020.

“As an institution we strongly believe that the integrity of judges demonstrates the credibility of the competition, thus, we have secured the services of individuals with the required academic expertise and moral standing to determine the best essay and poem.

Entries should be sent online and a panel of judicious judges will independently surf through all of them, and will send their judgments to a Chief Judge who will determine winners on a consensus basis, for both respective categories; essay and poetry.

Results will be announced via both the mainstream media; TV and radio, as well as the social media.

Winners will be called upon and attractive prizes will be given to them either live on TV or in the presence of media personnel. “This is to enhance transparency as well as to serve as a motivating factor,” Bah concluded.

‘Giving Tuesday’ to be launched in Sierra Leone

May 4, 2020

IMG-20200503-WA0370 — Cross Section of Giving Tuesday Sierra Leone Charter membership

By Foday Moriba Conteh

To unleash the power of people and organisations to transform their communities and the world, Giving Tuesday which is a Global generosity Movement that believe in the power of people and organisations to transform communities and the world will be launching its Sierra Leone Chapter on the 5^th May, 2020. As a result of the outbreak of the Covid-19 in the country and to adhere to the Government health regulations, the launch and the campaign will be done online.

Speaking to this medium in an interview, Giving Tuesday, Sierra Leone Chapter Leader, Santigie Bayo Dumbuya disclosed that Giving Tuesday is a global movement which has chapters in over 100 countries disclosing how the Sierra Leone chapter started in January 2020, adding that the idea of forming the Giving Tuesday was first announced in October 2012, a month before the first planned Giving Tuesday (November 27, 2012).

The announcement was made by Giving Tuesday founding partner Mashable and it has served as a platform to bring together philanthropists, companies, individuals and organisations to help transform their communities and the world through fundraising, donation, promotion of organisations and advocating to donors to support members including but not limited to sharing resources, funding opportunities and tools to help empower individuals and organisations in order to engage in giving to the needy.

He said that on the 5th May, 2020 they will host a Global Campaign #GivingTuesdayNow which will take place all over the world as their intervention to the fight against COVID-19 adding that they are also using that Day to launch the Giving Tuesday Sierra Leone Chapter.

He said that Giving Tuesday encompasses making someone smile, helping a neighbour out, showing up for an issue or people they care about, or giving some of what they have to those who need their help. “Every act of generosity counts and everyone has something to give,” he expressed optimism further encouraging everyone to identify their gifts, pick a cause that gets them fired up, and give back not just on May 5^th for #GivingTuesdayNow, but every day as a way to show generosity.

Envoy Calls for Strengthening of trade ties between Nigeria & Sierra Leone

May 4, 2020

By Edward Vamboi

Sierra Leone has pledged to strengthen economic relations and create the enabling environment to attract Nigerians to invest in the mining sector. Dr. Solomon Gembeh, High Commissioner of Sierra Leone to Nigeria, said in Abuja on the sidelines of the commemoration of Sierra Leone’s 59th Independence Anniversary that trade cooperation existing between both countries dated back to 1961.

He noted that Nigeria and other African countries have huge deposits of diamond and iron ore and stressed the need for a review of Sierra Leone’s laws with a view to promoting bilateral trade. “We are open to Nigeria to invest in Sierra Leone. Nigeria as our big brother has been good to us all through our development after the civil war, to Ebola, and recently in education.

“We have a lot of bilateral relationships with Nigeria being the largest economy in Africa and also the largest black nation in the world,” he said. “Out of 13 banks that are operating in Sierra Leone, 9 are owned by Nigerians and 95 percent of the people, who work in those Banks are Sierra Leoneans.

“We need to look at our relationships in Africa; how we can look at ourselves after this COVID-19; how we can trade with each other with free movement policy in place within the ECOWAS region.

“We should be able to trade and do things where we can be able to compete with the Western economies and not solely depend on them,” he said.

He said that although the mining sector in Sierra Leone is in a deplorable condition, measures had been taken to privatise some state owned enterprises and bring about economic profit. “We reviewed the mining agreement in the interest of our country to enable us to focus on legalities and to strengthen the fight against corruption.

“Lots of people so far have been brought to book to account for over $100 million,” he added.

2019 Corruption Perception Survey Report Presented by CARL

May 4, 2020

Ibrahim Tommy Esq – Executive Director, CARL

By Foday Moriba Conteh

According to the Corruption Perception Survey Report 2019 efforts in controlling corruption in the country has yielded tremendous dividends. The Report, which was presented on Wednesday 29th April 2020 at the Headquarters of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) office, was conducted by the Centre for Accountability and Rule of Law (CARL), Public Finance Management Consortium , the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID) and Christian Aid (UK) in order to gauge the views and perceptions of citizens about the ongoing fight against corruption, with focus on the administration of President Bio’s leadership of the country and Francis Ben Kaifala’s tenure at the helm of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) since 2018 but also draws insights from three (3) years before.

The Report, according to the Executive Director of CARL, Ibrahim Tommy, states that, 80% of respondents in the survey sample size of 2,619 persons in all the 16 Districts of the country said that corruption still remains a very serious problem in the country citing poverty, greed and lack of integrity as the main reasons for such.

However, 92% of the respondents believe that the ACC can make (and is making) the biggest impact in the fight against corruption, and that the presence of sacred cows has decreased from 57% three years ago to 47% over the last year. Also, 71% of respondents claimed it was common to pay a bribe 3 years ago but that in the last 12 months that number has dropped to an encouraging 56%. It also confirms that 91% of respondents have heard of the ACC and its work – which underscores that the Public Education drive is effective in disseminating anti-corruption messages to the general public. Critical also is, 69% of respondents who believe that prosecution is the most effective way of combating corruption.

With regard to the “Counting the cost of Corruption” Report (a joint report of the Corruption Perception Survey), Ibrahim Tommy noted that, according to estimations, the country has lost, between 10.45 Trillion Leones and 15.9 Trillion Leones in 2016, 2017 and 2018. He furthered that, it was estimated that this figure was higher than the combined revenue for the three years aforementioned, which totalled 8.8 Trillion Leones. He said an average of 12.7 percent GDP was lost to corruption in each of the three years mentioned. It also shows that corruption galloped massively in 2017 (which may be due to the fact that it was the year before election).

The data that informed this Report was collected from ten sectors which according to the report, accounted for 72.5% of the economy. These sectors ranged from Agriculture, Mining, Health, Energy, Education, and Transport; to name a few.

Receiving the Report, Commissioner of ACC, Francis Ben Kaifala Esq. expressed his appreciation by stressing his reliance on coalition building and partnership. Commissioner Kaifala reiterated that the Commission relies on feedback from the public to ensure the socio-economic emancipation for the people of Sierra Leone is pursued and realized. He said, to the Commission, there is no negative or positive feedback as feedback is feedback. It is what we do with the feedback that matters.

A number of recommendations are contained in the Report which the Commissioner encouraged all to read and digest in a bid to properly plan for effective engagements. He emphasized his aim to making things better through partnership with the public and private sectors; albeit for the betterment of the lives of Sierra Leoneans. The Commission, he ended, has its reserved strength to provide leadership in the fight against corruption within the agenda of the President, His Excellency, Brig. (Rtd.) Julius Maada Bio.

Earlier, the Deputy Commissioner, Augustine Foday Ngobie who chaired the program, registered his appreciation to CARL for such an undertaking and the positive effect it will have on the Commission and its work going forward. He said the ACC cannot be a player and a referee at the same time, hence, the activities and performances of the Commission need to be measured and assessed by outsiders, particularly independent ones like CARL. He assured we will build on the positive feedback to correct the negative ones.

The closing courtesy was done by Emmanuel Koivaya Amara, Coordinator of Operations at the ACC.

Mercury International Boosts Govt’s COVID-19 arsenal with Le 500, 000,000

May 4, 2020

Managing Director of Mercury International, Mr Martin Edmond Michael

By Amin Kef Sesay

In line with its corporate social responsibility and in a bid to support Government’s efforts to fight the spread of the COVID-19 virus in Sierra Leone, Mercury International Company (SL) Limited, on 29^th April 2020 donated the sum of Le500,000,000 (Five Hundred Million Leones) to the Government of Sierra Leone.

The money was transferred to the COVID-19 account at the Bank of Sierra Leone. This amount is in addition to the over Le50,000,000 (Fifty Million Leones) worth of face masks bought and distributed
by Mercury International to various poor, vulnerable and marginalized groups including market women and Okada riders.

Mercury International also ensured that its staff, retailers and their immediate families were supplied reusable masks to enable them to protect themselves and their customers.

The Managing Director, Mercury International, Martin Michael Esq. said, “in as much as we have lost business due to the cancellation of football leagues around Europe, we have tried our best to keep our
staff on a full-time basis and have ensured that payments to all our staff, customers and suppliers are made in full. We have dug deep to get this money together to make this contribution. The Board of
Directors feels that this is a fight that requires all Sierra Leoneans to come together”

Mercury International, it was stated, will continue to assist and complement the Government’s efforts in any way possible and is joining Government in urging all Sierra Leoneans to practice good hygiene, wash hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub, maintain a safe distance from others, wear a mask and stay home if possible.

SLAJ Institutes Disciplinary Committee

May 4, 2020

Ahmd Nasralla — President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) Ahmed Sahid Nasralla (De Monk)

By Amin Kef Sesay

The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), in a release it issued out on the 29^th April 2020 and signed by the Association’s National Secretary General, Mohamed Asmieu Bah, has intimated its launching of a Disciplinary Committee Pursuant to Article 14 (3) of the SLAJ constitution which states: “There shall also be a Disciplinary Committee of SLAJ whose function shall be to adjudicate upon matters of indiscipline and professional misconduct of individual members of SLAJ.”

The Disciplinary Committee of SLAJ comprises three members. Two of such members were drawn from within or without SLAJ.” “The SLAJ Disciplinary Committee should co-opt two additional members, comprising one from civil society and another from the floor to enhance its operations.”

The newly constituted Disciplinary Committee (SLAJ-DC) is as follows:

SLAJ:

Mrs. Bernadette Cole- (Chairperson)
Abu-Bakarr Sheriff Esq- (Secretary)
Lucy Ann Ganda

PUBLIC:

Marcella Samba Sesay
Batilloi Warritay

The SLAJ-DC will be supported by Regional and District Monitors as follows:

REGIONAL MONITORS

Ibrahim Jalloh- Northern Region
Samuel Haffner- Southern Region
James Jamil Fatorma- Eastern Region

DISTRICT MONITORS North

Alusine Rehme Wilson- Bombali District
Hassan Y. Koroma- Tonkolili District
Yakoya Kamara- Port Loko District
Foday Dumbuya- Kambia District
Duramanie Boima- Karene District
Margaret M. Mansaray- Koinadugu District
Sahr Paul Aruna- Falaba District

South:

Grace Okekearu- Bo
Samba Koroma- Bonthe
Emmanuel Koroma- Pujehun
Alpha Lalugba- Moyamba

East:

Ahmed Jusu Sheriff- Kenema
Mohamed Fofanah- Kono
Shar James- Kailahun

In mentioning the Goals/Deliverables of the Committee it was noted that:

The SLAJ-DC shall enforce the SLAJ Code of Ethics.
The committee shall cover all matters of discipline, professional conduct, integrity and reputation of the association.
The Committee shall improve on SLAJ Code of Conduct to include regulations on new media (Online publishing, Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter and other social media platforms).

The release ended by the SLAJ Executive thanking the members of the Committee for volunteering to serve and assured them of the Association’s support.

Outcomes of Commissions of Inquiry not to Undermine National Cohesion

May 4, 2020

By Foday Justice Jalloh B.Soc in Peace & Conflict Studies (FBC)

Commissions of Inquiry have become preferable mechanisms used to hold past Government officials to account. While such form of accountability promotes democratic governance, it can also affect national cohesion. This is the case in Sierra Leone. After the multitier elections (local council and presidential elections) in March 2018, the victorious Sierra Leone People’s Party, which formed the New Direction Administration, established Commissions of Inquiry to hold its predecessors to account. Though two-third of the country’s population welcomed the move (IGR’s Voices &Views Report on COI, 2019,pp.3), it was however, classified by the outgone All People’s Congress Party, as a political witch hunt. This further exacerbated the existing primordial division between the two traditional parties.

Several reasons exist for this exacerbation, apart from the establishment of the commissions; hereinafter, the ‘COI. ‘ First, the major opposition party (APC) argued that the New Direction Government Transition Team Report (GTTR), which recommended the establishment of the COI, was flawed. The report included names of individuals to be held accountable who were not even in governance at the time, as stated in the report. Additionally, the report or some of the authors of the report labelled past Government officials as ‘ criminals’ which to them, is a usurpation of the powers of the court of law.

Secondly, the COI mostly investigated Northerners (specifically the Temne and Limba ethnic groups) in the stronghold of the APC. Leaving out Southerners (specifically the Mende ethnic group) in the stronghold of the SLPP, who according to the APC, also served in their administration.

Third, the APC also claimed that both GTTR and COI represented a clear move by the New Direction Administration to destabilize their party. Although violent conflict is yet kept at bay, the ensuing contradiction succeeded in creating political and ethnic tension in the country; further escalating the political division between the Northerners and the Southerners. However, the claims put forward by the major opposition party, can be argued. For instance, while it is indeed true that the number of Northerners investigated far exceeded that of Southerners, this was not unexpected since Northerners held more political positions than Southerners in the past regime- the negative effect of the ‘winner takes all’ politics.

Only few loyal and trusted Southerners made it to the hierarchy of the past administration. Similarly, the claim that the Temne and Limba were ‘deliberately’ targeted by the New Direction Administration could not be entirely true. The aforementioned groups have been historical supporters of the APC party. As such, they have always been in majority in more or less all branches of the party’s political processes. And the Mandate of the COI was to investigate key government officials who served in the past administration. The polarized circumstance has already affected the country’s national cohesion, and will get worst depending on the nature of the Government’s final decision on the reports of the COI.

Certain measures could however, be taken to bridge the division between the affected communities; now that the commissions have completed their investigations. Going forward, there should be a consultative dialogue involving the two major political parties. This should have a reconciliatory face during which parties will be allowed to constructively air out their grievances. Such a move must be made by the ruling party. Although the Bintumani three had some effect, a more bipartisan approach is needed.

Moreover, inasmuch as massive corruption was discovered by the COI, care must be taken with regards the scale of punishment given out. Interestingly almost all major politicians in the past administration were found wanting by the COI- including the former President.

Some sections of the public recommend forfeiture of all properties and a five to ten years jail sentence or ban from active politics of guilty persons. But with the kind of regional division and fragile political situation, such punishment has the tendency to trigger conflict and further divide the nation. For Peace to prevail, having guilty persons refund misappropriated state resources will be quite enough.

Finally, due process must govern the entire accountability process. Final state decision must not be made based only on the findings of the COI. Accused persons must be allowed to appeal the charges before the court of law. This will promote fairness and public satisfaction of the entire process.

In conclusion, albeit that the major opposition portrayed the ongoing accountability process as a political witch hunt and attack not only on their party, but also on northerners, some of their claims however, are arguable as such corruption allegations have even been raised by numerous Auditor General’s reports under their administration. Similarly, the argument that northerners were deliberately targeted by the COI is also not a good one, as northerners had preference in the past administration. Above all, as the situation gets even more polarized with the completion of the investigations, the Government, in collaboration with civil society should organize a consultative meeting aiming at bridging the resulting polarization.

Author:

Foday Justice Jalloh B.Soc in Peace & Conflict Studies (FBC) fodayjusticejalloh33104@gmail.com +23276690073

APC Lambasts SLPP Govt. Over Riot at Male Correctional Centre

May 4, 2020

All People's Congress Party.jpg — Ambassador Dr. Alhaji Osman F. Yansaneh, APC National Secretary General

By Foday Moriba Conteh

In a Press Release issued by the All People’s Congress (APC) Party on the 30^th April 2020 and signed by Ambassador Alhaji Dr. Osman Foday Yansaneh, the National Secretary General of the party, it was categorically highlighted that the party is gravely concern with the developments that took place on the 29^th April 2020 at the Pademba Road Maximum Security Male Correctional Centre that led to the burning of Government properties and loss of human lives.

The party’s Executive stated that it is their understanding that there was a riot at the Centre during which the security forces, including the heavily armed Presidential Guard and other security personnel rained live bullets on the prisoners and Prison Officers thought to be in one of the safest places in Sierra Leone. .

“Without prejudice to any of the conflicting reports so far received from Government and media outlets, the APC notes with grave concern that some of the initial video footages that have made their way into the public domain show videos of known SLPP thugs like Tanibola that our sources tell us was never an inmate in that Correctional Centre.

That he now found himself inside the Correctional Centre can only lend credence to the aspersions making the rounds on social and other media that this alleged prison riot was another dastardly ploy by the SLPP and its operatives to kill innocent civilians and inmates including Senior members of our party, in the persons of Major Retired Palo Conteh, Herbert George Williams, Abu Bakar Daramy and Amadu Koita who at the time of the incident were in the custody of the security forces,” the release mentioned.

It went on to maintain how the APC is further appalled by the fact that armed security forces raided the home of Palo Conteh, harassed the occupants of the house and took into custody his innocent wife.

“The whereabouts of our Comrades have since remained unknown and all attempts by the leadership of our Party and the legal team to reach them have proved futile,” the Executive of the party expressed concern.

Again the Press Release contained that reports making the rounds indicate that their comrades are currently being held under very inhumane conditions and the health conditions of some of them have deteriorated significantly.

It was added that the leadership of the APC wished to make it known to President Julius Maada Bio and the SLPP Government that the APC will hold them singularly and collectively responsible if anything is amiss to their Comrades and of course for the innocent lives that were lost during the skirmishes.

The Report continued by stating that the APC is demanding the immediate information on the whereabouts of their comrades, and access to them by their lawyers and leaders of the Party.

It continued that the APC leadership wished to inform their development partners and the international community that the harassment and intimidation of the APC and its members have now reached a level that is unbearable.

Leadership of the party stated the APC can no longer guarantee their partners that they can restrain their members that are seeking for justice and the protection of their fundamental human and basic rights.

The party said they shall continue to consult with their members around the country and in the diaspora on this and related incidents that clearly threaten to undermine the peace and security of the country that they have fought so hard to uphold and protect over the years.

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