SIERRA LEONE FACING ANOTHER IMAGE REPAIR WAR
The events of 10th August, 2022 have changed a lot of things about Sierra Leone. Like the other bloody events that took place during the civil war, August 18 has exposed a lot of things about this country. And it’s not as if many Sierra Leoneans had fallen asleep even as danger loomed especially after the dress rehearsals of the 8th and 9th of August. The government of Sierra Leone says this was an insurrection driven by the main opposition party aimed at seizing power. Others say it’s the revolt of the ordinary people who are completely fed up with rising COST of LIVING.
Anyway scores of civilians are dead and half a dozen police officers were also brutally killed. Our information is that the officers were not even part of the force sent to stop those who attacked Freetown on the 10th. They were either on their way home from work or were attacked inside their stations and killed. Police stations were indeed torched or vandalized and looted. The visiting president of Guinea Bissau says he’s NEVER heard of such a thing in ECOWAS for TWENTY YEARS.
The pictures fed to the rest of the world on social and mainstream media told the story of a nation that hasn’t learnt anything from its brutal past. Once again our passport is in big trouble around the world.
Just when we thought the world had forgotten about our violent past, we are now confronted with even more serious questions about the little space called Sierra Leone. Within a few short days, some of our brothers and sisters have carried out their threat on social media to plunge this country into another round of violence.
1. We now have to first let the world understand what actually happened here on those three days and it doesn’t help when those who should know begin to behave like hypocrites. We have to look for powerful and innovative ways to attempt once again to change this narrative. It takes a lot of money and time.
2. Let’s tell our big friends that criticizing this country for all her troubles is one thing and quite another to make a conscious effort to understand why off-duty police officers were attacked and killed by some Sierra Leoneans. We should accept help to investigate those who instigated and financed this and bring them to book. We’re told they are Sierra Leoneans with strong foreign allies.
3. We are not against dialogue if it’s just ONE route by which we want to heal this nation. If dialogue means setting free those who killed our police officers, then we have a small problem. The Special Court building is still here.
4. Investor confidence in this country has been badly shaken. There was very little Foreign Direct Investment coming this way before August 8. Let’s now see what happens because our competitors would simply show the pictures of August 10 to the world and the money would be gone.
AND THE PRESS RELEASE BRIGADE IS FINALLY HERE
We have received more than a dozen press releases from as many organizations since the attack on Freetown. They are all saying the same thing using different words. In these days when laptops and smartphones are everywhere, even organizations with no physical presence are issuing statements for the attention of the media. Many of such press releases get tossed into the bin for a variety of reasons including the fact that some are simply doing it to be part of the press release bandwagon and please their donors or to state the case of their political pay masters using the platform of Civil Society.
When the nation’s temperature started rising several months back, we urged them to speak up because it was clear we were heading for some serious confrontation. The Freetown Mayor called her loyal councilors to a closed door meeting and told them something to the effect that she didn’t want to work with any BUWA, BISIEH. This was a direct reference to the MENDE people of this country. She had a clear opportunity on breakfast radio to apologize and solve matters but she doubled down and accused people of cutting and pasting what was said in that meeting held inside OUR CITY HALL. In another country she would be gone a day after that leak.
Next, Orsamu went to his stronghold where he doesn’t even need to campaign to win about 80% of the vote any day and launched a diatribe against the same MENDE people in front of teenagers. The nation’s temperature went up again. A few weeks later and after a very cruel social media war, we received our August 10th package. Now they are on social media calling for calm while our children are in their graves.
We will keep receiving these press releases but we will definitely not spend time on those organizations who were cheerleaders for those who encouraged, possibly planned and financed August 10.
This is the hypocrisy that many Sierra Leoneans are talking about. We now have clear proof that some of our politicians are prepared to walk on our skulls to the State House. They are all over the place smiling in churches, mosques and on social media to fool the world. They have blood on their hands.
RUTO DECLARED PRESIDENT BUT ELECTORAL BODY IN TURMOIL
We watched on TV as scuffles broke out just before the presidential result was announced in Kenya. Police managed to bring the situation under control but not before Africa was shamed again in the eyes of the rest of the world. We note also that FOUR of the seven electoral commissioners refused to sign and verify the result, opening the way for doubts and possible action in the Supreme Court. Meanwhile William Ruto has been declared the President-elect.
Raila Odinga has rejected the result and is surely heading to the Supreme Court right now. In the end the whole thing came down to just over TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND votes to decide who leads that great East African country. We have to wait for the people in wigs to decide one way or the other. For now there are a few things to note:
1. King Messi is the AUs Chief Observer in Kenya. He came to power here in 2007 after Chris from the Monastery cancelled 477 polling stations in Berewa’s stronghold and declared the result even after two of the commissioners refused to certify that result. We are not suggesting anything. All we are doing is putting some issues on record.
2. We don't know what the Supreme Court will do. They can call for a re-run and damn the consequences on the streets of Nairobi or confirm Ruto's victory.
3. Uhuru Kenyatta fought two successful elections with Ruto, they both appeared at the ICC on allegations of playing a part in the killing of more than 1000 Kenyans after one of those elections but instead of working with Ruto to take over from him he endorsed his old enemy. Ruto fought alone and now he is poised to run Kenya. In Sierra Leone Chief Sidikie was sacked. He fought back but failed to win significant votes outside his homeland.
The game is still on in Kenya.
AMERICA COMPELS WEAH TO FIGHT CORRUPTION
The Americans have forced George Manneh Weah to suspend three senior officials of his government on allegations of corruption. Liberia’s main ally used the Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act to strike the three guys, accusing them of a string of corruption offences that would leave ordinary Liberians thinking about the future of their children. Of course these are allegations for now and the Liberian politicians have a right to be heard but when the Super Power speaks, Liberia of all countries should take notice.
With elections looming next year, this is the last thing Weah wants to have to deal with. The longer this drags on, the more the opposition will enjoy their red meat. The three accused now have no choice but to fight to the death. Weah will be very worried that they don’t drag him along. These three guys have nothing to lose.
So, where are the Americans going next with this Magnitsky thing?
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