*Abandoned Voices: Dr. Samura Kamara and the Heart-Wrenching Betrayal of APC Grassroots Supporters in Sierra Leone*
By Foday Morris
*Date: October 19, 2023*
In the turbulent political landscape of Sierra Leone, a distressing narrative of betrayal unfolds as the grassroots supporters of the All People’s Congress (APC) find themselves abandoned by their leaders, notably the 2023 presidential candidate, Dr. Samura Kamara.
Amidst political unrest and the specter of extrajudicial executions under President Julius Maada Bio’s repressive SLPP regime, the betrayal suffered by APC grassroots supporters takes on a deeply personal and agonizing dimension.
Rooted in a historical commitment to championing the causes of the common people, the APC now faces grave accusations of abandoning its foundational principles. The wounds inflicted by the SLPP’s extrajudicial executions run deep, and the sense of betrayal intensifies when the party that should staunchly stand against such atrocities is perceived as complacent.
Concrete examples illustrate the harsh reality. On June 26, 2023, just two days after the general elections, Matron Mahawa Dumbuya and another supporter known as White Boy were executed by SLPP thugs masquerading in police and military uniforms. On August 14, 2022, Evangelist Samson, aka Hassan Kamara, faced a similar fate at the hands of SLPP members in uniform.
In various regions, SLPP members executed scores of APC supporters who were peacefully protesting. Leading up to the 2023 elections, APC supporters in the Southeast faced violence and forced displacement, with houses set ablaze and brutal attacks.
Dr. Samura Kamara, the face of the APC in the 2023 presidential race, faces severe scrutiny for not calling for investigations and compensation for families of those who lost their lives supporting the party. The APC leadership, at the end of three-day negotiations, showed no concern for the families of those extrajudicially executed by the repressive Bio government.
This betrayal cuts deep into fundamental issues of human rights, justice, and the duty of political leaders to shield their supporters. Did Dr. Samura Kamara do enough to condemn the extrajudicial executions and stand resolutely by the side of the oppressed APC grassroots supporters?
Concrete instances of betrayal include broken promises of protection and advocacy for the grassroots, replaced by political expediency. The perceived indifference of party leaders in the face of atrocities threatens to sever the trust that binds a political movement together.
The dire situation raises profound concerns about the trajectory of Sierra Leone’s political landscape. Will the APC reclaim its role as a steadfast defender of the people’s rights, or will it continue down a path of perceived compromise and betrayal?
In the aftermath of this betrayal, grassroots supporters find themselves disillusioned, questioning the essence of their political allegiance. Examples of broken promises serve as stark reminders of the tangible consequences of political betrayal.
Rebuilding trust within the party becomes an arduous challenge, and the wounds inflicted by political betrayal may take years to heal. The APC party stands at a critical juncture where leaders must be held accountable for their actions and inactions in the face of injustice. The story of the betrayed APC grassroots supporters and Dr. Samura Kamara’s role in this saga serves as a poignant illustration of the intricate complexities and profound consequences of political decisions in a party earnestly striving for stability and justice.
