By Dr. Fatima Babih
In a startling revelation on X, Sierra Leone’s Chief Minister David Moinina Sengeh, disclosed that the government had custody of 318 individuals affiliated with the opposition All People’s Congress (APC) party. Sengeh’s statement, however, hinted at a grim reality long suspected by many Sierra Leoneans: the extrajudicial killings of opposition members.
According to the post, of the 318 names submitted by the APC for Resolution 4, only 15 remain confirmed to be in custody. The explanation given by Sengeh suggested that a majority of these individuals had either escaped during the failed coup attempt on November 26, served their jail terms, paid fines, or were released by court orders. Disturbingly, he also mentioned that 51 names were never in custody, and 9 were duplicates.
This vague accounting of individuals in government custody has led to widespread suspicion and concern. It has fueled existing rumors that many of the former bodyguards of ex-President Ernest Koroma were allegedly subjected to extrajudicial executions personally by Julius Bio.
These accusations underscore the troubling pattern of human rights violations since Bio’s regime came into power, it has been a government lacking transparency and accountability.
These Unsettling allegations call for the international community and human rights organizations to turn their attention to Sierra Leone, otherwise these alleged extrajudicial killings will continue.
The people of Sierra Leone deserve answers and justice for the lives lost and the protection of human rights going forward are at stake. Sierra Leoneans have no trust in their institutions any more, and fear that these atrocities are going to continue.
MAMA SALONE ~ Lioness of the West Coast 