PRESS STATEMENT: CONDEMNING THE EROSION OF DEMOCRACY AND SELECTIVE JUSTICE IN SIERRA LEONE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DATE: April 7, 2026

I. Condemnation of Incitement and Hate Speech by SLPP Leadership

We express our profound alarm and strongest condemnation regarding the recent wave of inflammatory and dangerous rhetoric emanating from the highest levels of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP).

First, we draw attention to the deeply troubling statements made by the SLPP National Chairman, Jimmy Batilo Songa. His reported calls for the formation of a “POLITICAL ARMY” to suppress opposition voices, coupled with repeated declarations of “NO MORE APC IN THIS COUNTRY!” constitute a direct and unacceptable threat to peace, political tolerance, and national security.

Second, we are equally disturbed by statements attributed to the Government Spokesman and Deputy Minister of Information, Bockarie Abdel Aziz Bawoh AKA “KakaScatter,” who has reportedly declared: “I WANT ALL APC TO DIE!” Such language is not political expression, it is a clear and dangerous incitement to violence, which has no place in any democratic society.

Third, we note with grave concern statements attributed to His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio, including the reported remark that “ALL APC SUPPORTERS IN BONTHE SHALL DIE EARLY IN THE MORNING!” 

Words of this nature, especially when coming from the highest office in the land carry immense weight and consequence. They risk legitimizing hostility, deepening division, and endangering innocent lives.

Furthermore, we condemn President Bio’s failure to decisively restrain and denounce these inciteful statements, which creates the perception of tacit or explicit endorsement of a dangerous and divisive political climate.

This is not normal political discourse. This is not acceptable democratic engagement.

This is language that threatens peace, undermines democracy, and puts lives at risk.

Sierra Leone has endured too much in its history to allow such rhetoric to take root again. Leaders must be custodians of unity, not promoters of division. The responsibility to protect the nation lies first with those who lead it.

We therefore call for justice, accountability, and a return to responsible leadership that prioritizes peace, respect, and the safety of all Sierra Leoneans—regardless of political affiliation.

II. Bias Within State Institutions (PPRC, SLP, and CID)

We further denounce the fanatic predisposition and blatant partiality displayed by the Political Parties Regulation Commission (PPRC), the Sierra Leone Police (SLP), and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

These institutions, which are constitutionally mandated to remain neutral and serve as the guardians of justice, have instead become extensions of the ruling party’s enforcement wing.

• The PPRC has demonstrated a clear double standard, imposing punitive fines and threats of suspension on the opposition while turning a blind eye to the provocative and obscene rhetoric used by SLPP officials.

• The SLP and CID continue to weaponize the legal system to harass and detain political opponents, conducting investigations that are transparently partisan in nature. The dispensing of justice in Sierra Leone is no longer blind; it is being used as a tool for political persecution.

III. Demand for the Immediate Release of Political Prisoners

The continued detention of citizens for exercising their fundamental right to free speech is an affront to the rule of law. We demand the following:

1. Immediate and Unconditional Release of Zainab Sheriff: Her repeated denial of bail for non-capital offenses is a violation of her human rights and a transparent attempt to silence a prominent female political leader.

2. Immediate Release of Moriba Koroma: We call for the release of Moriba Koroma and all other grassroots activists currently being held on "trumped-up" charges designed to stifle political mobilization.

3. Dropping of All Charges Against Lansana Dumbuya: The prosecution of the APC National Secretary General, after the party has already been penalized by the PPRC for the same event, constitutes judicial harassment. These charges are baseless and must be vacated immediately.

Conclusion

We call upon the international community, including ECOWAS, the African Union (AU), the European Union (EU), the United Nations (UN), and all moral guarantors of Sierra Leone’s peace process, to take urgent note of the concerning signs of democratic backsliding.

We urge continued engagement and vigilance in support of democratic norms, political freedoms, and institutional independence in Sierra Leone.

At the same time, we call on the Government of Sierra Leone to immediately cease any actions or practices that may be perceived as intimidation, and to recommit to the principles of genuine national cohesion, respect for fundamental rights, and the impartial application of the rule of law.

Dr. Richard Konteh The Unifier

Freetown, Sierra Leone