This message was made clear at the just-ended 66^th session of the Economic Community of West African States ECOWAS in collaboration with the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel UNOWAS in Abuja, Nigeria. It happened in the presence of the ECOWAS Chairman President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the UNOWAS Chief Leonardo Santos Simao. (Photo: ECOWAS Chairman President Tinubu).

The ECOWAS Heads of State publicly but indirectly, in a civilised way, reminded the illegal Sierra Leone President Maada Bio that he did not win the June 24, 2023 elections. How did the ECOWAS leaders pass the message? They boldly congratulated Ghana and Senegal and Liberia for their elections which were conducted successfully.

By contrast, the ECOWAS leaders and UNOWAS publicly refused to congratulate Sierra Leone again under Maada Bio. It was succinct that Bio is still unrecognised and therefore cannot be accorded any congratulatory messages for last year’s elections. What does that signify? Put simply, it is not a matter of IF but WHEN the Illegal President Bio shall exit State House.

Though Maada was conspicuously absent in Abuja due to fear of being apprehended by the International Criminal Court ICC as his indictment is imminent, the ECOWAS leaders unanimously and intentionally and rightly so sent kudos to Ghana and to Senegal for conducting peaceful and successful elections. (Photo: UNOWAS Boss Leonardo Santos).

Unsurprisingly, it was a different case when it was the turn of Sierra Leone. The ECOWAS Authority bluntly admonished all the stakeholders in Sierra Leone to implement all the outstanding recommendations of the Tripartite Agreement signed by the Bio presidency and the main opposition APC party.

Failure to recognise Sierra Leone’s June 24, 2023 elections apparently marred in fraudulent activities, the international community has again and again informed Maada Bio that he is not legitimate. But the buffoonery attitude of Bio has rendered him deaf and blind as he could no longer see that the writing about his exit from power is clearly on the wall.

The joint ECOWAS/UNOWAS message is realistic and dotted with determination to restore democracy by all necessary means. Game is up for Bio according to ECOWAS and UNOWAS at the Abuja meeting from December 11 to 15, 2024. Last year’s elections in Sierra Leone have been discredited worldwide for the historic electoral flaws therein. (Photo: Bio stole the elections assisted by ECSL chair Mohamed Konneh, left).

It was a blow to the SLPP/Paopa supporters who are daydreaming about Bio’s legality. This confirmation of Bio illegitimacy in Abuja has come a few hours after the wicked APC Chairman Minkailu Mansaray says ECOWAS has congratulated his paymaster Maada Bio. It is no surprise that Maada Bio deliberately refused to attend the Abuja summit.

Bio knew the outcome of the ECOWAS would be negative. On page 37 of the communique signed by the ECOWAS leaders, it was made abundantly clear that Ghana’s December 7, 2024 general and presidential elections were successfully conducted. On page 40, the Authority also praised Senegal for its November 17, 2024 parliamentary elections.

What a shame for Sierra Leone under Maada Bio! No congratulations, no recognitions. On pages 37 and 41 of the communique, it reads thus: “The Authority urges stakeholders to commit to the continued implementation of the ‘Agreement for National Unity’ and the recommendation of the Tripartite Committee in good faith and to persevere in resolving all differences by de-escalating tensions through peaceful and inclusive dialogue. (Photo: Dr Samura Kamara, the real winner).

“In this regard, the Authority directs the Commission to continue to accompany the Government and people of Sierra Leone in the implementation of commitments for the consolidation of democracy, peace, and stability, including through regular follow-up visits by the International Moral Guarantors on the status of implementation of the Agreements.

“The Authority commends Member States for their commitment to the stabilisation of the Republic of Sierra Leone through the pledges made to the deployment of a planned ECOWAS Mission in Sierra Leone ECOMISIL. The Authority takes note of the proposed ECOWAS Security Mission to the Republic of Sierra Leone.” Electoral justice is winning.