The illegitimate Sierra Leone Health and Sanitation Minister Dr Austin Demby, was publicly humiliated in South Africa a few days ago after he was refused entry into South Africa. His charge was he was carrying a Sierra Leone diplomatic passport issued by Maada Bio’s regime. It is clear that the US ban has targeted SLPP government officials who hold diplomatic passports or civil service passports. Ordinary passport holders in most cases are not targeted. The net is getting closer to those who undermine democracy in Sierra Leone. The Health Minister’s disgrace was because of the repercussions of Maada Bio’s fraudulent elections on June 24, 2023. (Photo: Dr Austin Demby was humiliated in South Africa).

The American travel ban came as a consequence of the electoral thievery on June 24 which all the elections observers internationally and nationally had condemned and described as lacking transparency and accountability. The entire world has not recognised Maada Bio’s regime up to this point and consequently, sanctions and more sanctions have followed suit. From the travel ban to the freezing of personal assets and bank accounts of SLPP officials of the Maada Bio regime, the sanctions have started hitting harder where it hurts. Bio’s corrupt Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone ECSL led by Mohamed Kenewui Konneh has so far refused to release the actual election result as demanded by major stakeholders.

The refusal by the South African Airport authorities to allow the Bio bogus Health Minister Austin Demby to enter the country is a testament to the US travel restriction, a popular and acceptable move as far as Sierra Leoneans are concerned. Minister Demby, holder of a diplomatic passport is the first high-profile Bio government official to face the travel ban after being stopped in South Africa. The US travel ban does not affect ordinary Sierra Leoneans who are visibly happy about the stiff US position taken against the criminally minded Bio regime. The majority of Sierra Leoneans have welcomed the US embargo on Maada Bio’s thieves.