DID THE MORAL GUARANTORS LEAVE SIERRA LEONE WITHOUT ADDRESSING THE ZAINAB SHERIFF INJUSTICE AND THE EDMOND ALPHA ISSUE ?
Asks Kabs Kanu ( The Lion of Bombali )
If the International moral guarantors leave the country without addressing the Zainab Sheriff politically- motivated imprisonment when President Bio issued the same threats on the APC and was not even flagged, one of the greatest acts of justice would have been perpetrated in Sierra Leone.
Equally so, if the very reason that the APC boycotted governance was the illegal appointment of SLPP card bearer Edmond Alpha as Electoral Commissioner, international moral guarantors cannot leave Sierra Leone without addressing that thorny issue too.
In case somebody does not understand, In African politics, where despots , blood- shedders and human rights abusers like President Maada Bio of Sierra Leone hold domain, international moral guarantors are respected external entities—in our case including international organizations like the Commonwealth and the European Union ( EU) , regional blocs (like ECOWAS), or prominent individuals—that oversee, mediate, and provide credibility to peace agreements, political dialogues, democracy , social and political justice or electoral processes.
International moral guarantors act as custodians of agreements, often stepping in when domestic political trust has broken down, in order to ensure that opposing parties adhere to their commitments to stability, democracy, human rights and free and fair elections.
President Bio’s threats against APC supporters in Bonthe constitute a major assault on the peace, safety and security of Sierra Leone .
I applaud the moral guarantors for recognizing that what Sierra Leoneans , including our lawless President and his supporters do , making public threatening remarks , is unacceptable . The International Moral Guarantors called on all political leaders, party executives, supporters, and citizens of Sierra Leone to exercise restraint and refrain from hate speech, inciting statements, and the spread of dis/misinformation, according to the media
According to AYV, “This appeal aims to help de-escalate current political tensions and promote a more conducive environment for mutual trust, national cohesion, peace, and stability across the country.” However, this appeal was not enough. Acts of injustice by Bio’s totalitarian SLPP Government should have been undone and public confidence in our justice system restored. The illegal and selective imprisonment of Zainab Sheriff should have been used as a test case that moral guarantors care about justice in Sierra Leone.
I sincerely hope that recommendations were made for the immediate and unconditional release of Zainab Sheriff, in view of the fact that President Bio and the abrasive Chairman of his party , the SLPP , Batilo Songa, within the same time frame, committed the alleged offence that Zainab was accused of and imprisoned for four years . Why is it that only allegations against Zainab were addressed by the justice system ?
According to the Truth and Reconciliation ( TRC ) Commission, injustice against innocent persons was one of the contributing factors of the Sierra Leone civil war. Since the SLPP came to power in 2018, it has been committing the same injustices that helped to spark a senseless war that killed over 250, 000 people and damaged our infrastructure.
By the same token, leaving Sierra Leone without resolving the Edmond Alpha problem will be akin to plaiting a beautiful hair style on the lice-infested head of a woman.
We await to hear the full recommendations of the international moral guarantors. If there is nothing in these recommendations about Zainab Sheriff and Edmond Alpha , it will be safe to conclude that their recent trip to Sierra Leone was a failed mission.
EDITOR’S NOTE :
The international moral guarantors ordered the Elections Commission to be restructured according to the recommendations of the Tripartite Committee by December 31, 2026. This implies that Edmond Alpha might not be Chairman after that date.
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