Opposition supporter and youth activist, Sorie Brima Kargbo has narrowly escaped death when armed forces gunned down his colleague, Hassan Dumbuya alias “Evangelist Samson” at the northern city of Makeni. Sorie Brima Kargbo like many other supporters of the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) were incarcerated at the most dreaded torture Police Camp called “Benghazi’, for what police called “Criticizing the Government”, but he luckily escaped from that concentration camp.
Amnesty report has confirmed that Benghazi is a state instituted place for torture, and has called on the Government to dismantle it as it is contrary to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the rule of law.
The Inspector General of the Sierra Leone Police, Faya Sellu has confirmed the killing of Evangelist Samson in a Press Conference. He argued that young opposition supporters are abusing the social media by fanning violence. When asked why such excessive and disproportionate force was used he argued that the police conducted themselves professionally.
Meanwhile, Amnesty International and the International Community have condemned the killing and persecution of opposition members. They have called on the Government to encourage political dialogue by respecting the views of the opposition, and other dissenting groups.
It could be recalled that national elections were held across the country on 24th June, 2023. The Electoral Commissioner Mohamed Konneh hurriedly announced President Mada Bio as the winner of the Presidential election without due consideration to both national and international observers.
Both International and local observers have condemned the procedure and challenged the results as ‘fraudulent and opaque”.
However, the International Community with support from the US Embassy, UK, and the EU have brokered a dialogue scheme by establishing a Tripartite Committee comprising of the two main political parties; the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), and the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) and the Civil Society.
There is tense and acrimonious political tension looming in the hot dry breeze of Freetown with all hopes hanging on the outcome of the dialogue committee.