Thank God, the sanctions promised by the international community are coming thick and fast. Sierra Leoneans are delighted that those who committed electoral fraud before, during, and after the June 24, 2023, general and presidential elections are facing the music thanks to the US government. The US guillotine that is falling on the heads of Maada Bio and his corrupt SLPP government thugs centres around issuing US visas which are no longer forthcoming. Family members of the major actors of the electoral fraud would be affected too. (Photo: Maada Bio and his thieving SLPP officials and their family members are banned in the US).

Henceforth, according to the US government, the illegal Sierra Leone President Maada Bio and his criminal SLPP surrogates including their wives and children will cease to receive American visas because of their dubious roles in the June elections which were stolen in favour of the incumbent Maada Bio to the disappointment of well-meaning and peaceful Sierra Leone voters. Leading the electoral thievery was the Chairman of the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone ECSL crook Mohamed Kenewui Konneh.

In broad daylight, three days after the chaotic elections, Mohamed Konneh declared Maada Bio as the winner on June 27, 2023, leaving most Sierra Leoneans and the foreign partners completely surprised, baffled, and bewildered. Immediately after the criminal ECSL made the announcement, the international elections observers denounced the results and described them as not transparent and accountable. Everyone knows that the main opposition APC party of Dr Samura Kamara won the elections hands down.

Local elections observers like the National Elections Watch NEW of Madam Marcella Samba, international elections observers namely the African Union, ECOWAS, the US-based Carter Center, the European Union, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Ireland, all unanimously agreed that the Sierra Leone elections were not transparent and that the people’s mandate did not reflect the outcome of the results announced by the corrupt Mohamed Konneh. Despite both local and international condemnations, Maada Bio and the ECSL continued to be defiant and ECSL has still refused to publish the results as demanded by the global partners and the APC party. (Photo: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken).

Consequently, all the foreign partners decided to impose socio-economic, and financial sanctions on Sierra Leone until the right things were done. Now, the US government has taken the lead first by stopping the over 400 million dollars of Millennium Challenge Corporation MCC grants, and second by restricting visa travel ban on all SLPP government officials including the illegitimate President Maada Bio. The US ban comes a few days after the outgone US Ambassador David Reimer told the world that the US does not recognise the Bio presidency because of electoral manipulation. This latest visa travel embargo was announced by the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken yesterday. The statement read thus –

Visa Restriction Policy on Undermining the Democratic Process in Sierra Leone

PRESS STATEMENT – ANTONY J. BLINKEN, SECRETARY OF STATE, AUGUST 31, 2023

The United States is committed to supporting and advancing democracy in Sierra Leone and around the world.  Today, I am announcing a new visa restriction policy under Section 212(a)(3)C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act for undermining the democratic process in the June 2023 Sierra Leone election. Under this policy, the United States will pursue visa restrictions for those believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining democracy in Sierra Leone, including through the manipulation or rigging of the electoral process; intimidation of voters, election observers, or civil society organizations through threats or acts of physical violence; or the abuse or violation of related human rights in Sierra Leone.

Family members of such persons may also be subject to these restrictions.  Persons who undermine the democratic process in Sierra Leone – including in the lead-up to, during, and following Sierra Leone’s 2023 elections – may be found ineligible for U.S. visas under this policy. The visa restriction policy announced today will apply to specific individuals and is not directed at the Sierra Leonean people. This decision reflects the commitment of the United States to support Sierra Leoneans’ aspirations to have free and fair elections that demonstrate the will of the people and strengthen democracy and the rule of law.