“We never told President Bio to stop the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone ECSL from counting the votes,” the United States government noted. This counter-reaction by the US government has come at a time when the relationship between the United States and Maada Bio’s illegal SLPP regime is at its lowest ebb. In a more diplomatic language, the US denied the interference claims made by Maada Bio. (Photo: Michael Heath did not mince his words).

All this started after Maada Bio publicly accused the United States government of interfering in the June 24, 2023 elections, which the SLPP regime publicly stole from the actual winner Dr Samura Kamara of the APC party.. Maada Bio said he was asked by the US to stop ECSL Chairman Mohamed Kenewui Konneh from counting the votes. Maada said he refused the US request and that was how his trouble with the US began.

The highest profile American government official to counter the Maada Bio accusation was the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Africa Michael Heath who has denied claims by Bio that the United States government has asked him to stop the ECSL Chief Returning Officer Konneh from announcing the results of the June 24 polls. The American diplomat Michael Heath made this reaction when he met and talked to the SLPP Vice President Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh.

Among other pertinent issues, Mr Michael Heath, who landed in Sierra Leone this week, said President Bio is entitled to his views, but we did not ask him to take action that will affect the outcome of the elections. He explained the importance of democratic governance in terms of the Millennium Challenge Corporation MCC Compact finances which had been withheld due to the electoral fraud in Sierra Leone. Michael Heath further reminded Sierra Leone about the vitality of freedom of the press, association, human rights etc.