By Mabinty M.Kamara
The United States Secretary of State Anthony J. Blinken last evening in a press statement announced the US government’s decision to levy a travel ban on Sierra Leonean officials who the statement said played a compromising role in the last national elections of the country.
“Today, I am announcing a new visa restriction policy under Section 212(a)(3)C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act for undermining the democratic process in the June 2023 Sierra Leone election,” it reads, adding that “Under this policy, the United States will pursue visa restrictions for those believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining democracy in Sierra Leone, including through the manipulation or rigging of the electoral process; intimidation of voters, election observers, or civil society organizations through threats or acts of physical violence; or the abuse or violation of related human rights in Sierra Leone.”
The restrictions according to the release also did not spare family members of such persons.
It added that the visa restriction policy will apply to specific individuals and is not directed at the Sierra Leonean people.
Addressing Sierra Leonean journalists through a WhatsApp group, Sarah Van Horne, Public Affairs Officer US embassy in Freetown said “Due to privacy restrictions surrounding visa eligibility information, we do not publicly publish names of individuals who are affected by this policy.”
Responding to a question on whether the restrictions affect those invited to attend official international functions like attending the United Nations General Assembly, Sarah said a provision does exist for a waiver in such circumstances. “If someone who has this (or any other) visa ineligibility and it is deemed necessary to make an exemption or waiver for a specific travel purpose, that mechanism does exist,” she said.
This decision reflects the commitment of the United States to support Sierra Leoneans’ aspirations to have free and fair elections that demonstrate the will of the people and strengthen democracy and the rule of law.
Sierra Leoneans on social media received the news with mixed feelings with some mostly describing the US decision as modern-day colonialism and expression of dominance over smaller nations that heavily rely on foreign aid for national development. Others blame successive governments for over-reliance on the international community.
Reports by the National Elections Observation group NEW and foreign Election observers like the European Union and the US-based Carter Centre criticized the results announced by the Chief Electoral Commissioner Mohamed Konneh, citing electoral irregularities before and during the elections. However, African observation missions such as the Economic Community of West African States and the African Union have validated the outcome to be a free and fair process thereby endorsing President Julius Maada Bio as the president of Sierra Leone.
Since the announcement of the election results, the main opposition All Peoples Congress whose presidential candidate Dr Samura Mathew Wilson Kamara polled 41.16 percent of the total votes cast has called on their elected officials not to attend parliament or the Local Councils.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (01/09/23)
