The message was strikingly salient, i.e. democracy has cracked. From his hiding place in Sierra Leone, the President-Elect, Dr Samura Kamara, took the risk to speak from a vehicle last night, as Sierra Leoneans inside and outside the country waited with bated breath to hear their leader. (Photo: Brave soldier Dr Samura Kamara last night).

Dr Samura Kamara did not hold back in this particular situation, blasting the failed political leaders in Sierra Leone for manipulating the democratic system for personal gain by failing to abide by its principles, practices, and values in the general welfare.

In the not-too-well-lit vehicle for safety reasons, the embattled Dr Samura Kamara blasted: “The truth is that our democracy has cracked, not because Sierra Leoneans do not believe in it, but because too many of our leaders have stopped respecting it.”

The President-elect, Dr Samura Kamara, whose whereabouts are unknown, avoiding Maada Bio’s SLPP assassins, added: “Instead of building discipline, fairness and strong institutions, we have opted to build our democracy around networks of loyalty, political protection and self-interest. (Photo: Chief Sumanoh Kapen 111).

“When power becomes more important than principle, when truth becomes negotiable, and when the ballot becomes a weapon instead of a voice, then democracy stands at a crossroads, and finally crumples, giving way to the exercise of power and authority without a human face,” Dr Samura Kamara noted. His full speech follows later in this piece.

Meanwhile, the Mini-Zoom Conference organised by the Sierra Leone Advocacy Movement SLAM/Global began with a bang by moderators Dr Mohamed M Sesay & Mrs Fatima Sessay. Mr Hassan Turay & Team opened the link at 6.30 pm as SLAM soul music took the airwaves.

As usual, prayers were offered for God’s guidance by Mr Alieu Bah, London (Muslim) and Pastor Esther Abibatu Daramy, USA (Christian) and Mrs Fatima Sessay, UK (Buddhist). The great Madam Marie H Kamara from Holland came on to introduce SLAM/Global Executives.

After the chief moderator, Dr Sesay, gave an overview of the night’s events, Mrs Fatima Sessay took the honour of introducing the Director General of SLAM/Global, Dr Alfred Veenod Fullah, whose brief presentation highlighted the ills in society & the key role of SLAM/Global in helping to correct them. (Photos: Ambassador John Leigh and UNOWAS Representative Julius Bekong Njingeng).

Due to unforeseen circumstances, some of the participants did not make it. However, the night was boosted with brilliant speeches starting with Mr Aiah Martin Mondeh, who touched on media accountability, strengthening public trust and advice for the dormant media.

One of the highlights of the night came from Chief Sebora Sumanoh Kapen 111. He elaborated on the Political Dialogue and National Cohesion and Building Bridges for Unity. The former SLPP Chairman Kapen touched on the vitality of the unconventional approach.

One of the firebrand speakers of the night was Ambassador John Leigh, who did not mince his words. Speaking on Democracy in Sierra Leone, Gains, Challenges and the Current Crossroads, the former SLPP government guru said Sierra Leone has no democracy today.

Another firebrand, Dr Fatima Babih, the US-based Consultant, Social Justice & Human Rights Activist, Publisher, Editor, Writer, exposed the injustices in Sierra Leone under Maada Bio’s misrule. Dr Babih said free speech is non-existence in Sierra Leone today as innocent arrests go on. (Photo: Dr Fatima Babih).

Later, the moderators introduced one of the most important speakers last night. Mr Julius Bekong Njinkeng, Senior Analyst from UNOWAS, who represented the UNOWAS Chief Dr Leonardo Santos Simao, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres. Mr Njinkeng is the head of the Sierra Leone Desk.

From Senegal, the UNOWAS headquarters, Mr Njinkeng, spoke on the Way Forward, Why Full Implementation of the Tripartite Committee’s Recommendations is Non-Negotiable. The audience’s hope revived after this speech, knowing that the UN would restore democracy in Sierra Leone.

The night was climaxed by SLAM/Global orator Mrs Zainab O giving the votes of thanks to all the participants. That was after the president-elect, Dr Samura Kamara, had given his own watershed speech in the dimly lit vehicle for security reasons. The full speech is as follows thus –

SLAM Global Symposium – 18th November, 2025 – THEME: Sierra Leone’s Democracy at the Crossroads: The Imperative of Truth, Justice, and Renewal

Statement by Dr Samura Matthew Wilson Kamara – Office of the APC Presidential Candidate 2018/2023

Distinguished organisers of SLAM

Your Excellencies

Distinguished Participants

Colleagues and friends

Good evening,

Tonight, we gather with a challenging and timely purpose: to exchange ideas and perspectives on Sierra Leone’s Democracy at Crossroads. This is not merely a meeting. It is a summons of conscience. It is an assembly of minds that recognise the gravity of the unprecedented outcomes, before, during and the days after, of the June 2023 multi-tier elections in our beloved Sierra Leone, the impact on our democracy, and the moral urgency for credible remedies that will restore trust, protect rights, and secure freedom and the franchise of every Sierra Leonean.

I thank SLAM-Global for convening a truly global audience on a truly defining question. I sincerely appreciate each one of you for agreeing to participate or follow the proceedings with keen interest. Your deep reflections on Sierra Leone will remain invaluable. In celebrating the UN International Day for Tolerance, let me admonish that tolerance is not the absence of standards; it is the courage to uphold truth without fear, to welcome inclusive diplomacy and dialogue without intimidation, and to insist, calmly but firmly, that justice be done and be seen to be done. That is why I am here, privileged to listen and to learn. And that is why together we must continue to speak plainly and live by the truth, no matter how hurtful it might be.

Given your extensive experience, we need to be assertive and precise since the stakes are critical. As Sierra Leoneans, in particular, we must never stop or hesitate to interrogate the cracks in our 64-year democratic journey, to critically examine the pivotal impact of the 2023 elections, and to set out a credible path forward, anchored on truth, freedom, justice, and democratic imperatives. Sierra Leone being our individual and collective responsibility, we must commit ourselves to identifying pathways that can move this once peaceful and tolerant nation from uncertainty to stability, from public grievance to good, inclusive governance, and from despair to impactful, accountable and equitable service delivery. From your deliberations on this theme tonight, we are confronted with three simple truths. Firstly, that justice is the foundation of peace. Secondly, that freedom is the oxygen of democracy; and thirdly, that truth, however uncomfortable and hurtful, is the only cure for national healing, and the cornerstone for building a resilient society.

Ladies and gentlemen, democracy in Sierra Leone has always been both a promise and a test. A promise born in 1961 with independence, that sovereignty would bring dignity, justice, and opportunity for every citizen. In the words of Sir Milton Margai after signing the Independence Protocol, “the aim (of independence) will certainly be to make our country a land worth living in, a land worth serving; but this can only be done by wholehearted service and hard work now”. Our first Prime Minister went on to say: “I ask you to deal fairly and honestly with your fellow men, to discourage lawlessness, and to strive actively for peace, friendship and unity in our country”. Therefore, the test of our democracy is whether we can sustain these promises through the storms of power, conflict, and reform.

For sixty-four years, our democratic journey, with the promise of self-rule and freedom, has been marked by both triumphs and tragedies. Our path has been anything but smooth. Our democracy has been tested repeatedly. We have witnessed moments of hope when the will of the people triumphed over the weight of history. Yet we have also seen the slow corrosion of trust, where institutions meant to safeguard our democracy have instead been weakened by partisanship, fear, silence and executive capture. Each democratic chapter has revealed existential cracks and fragile transitions that continue to challenge our aspirations for a truly representative system. The truth is that our democracy has cracked, not because Sierra Leoneans do not believe in it, but because too many of our leaders have stopped respecting it. They have exercised their power to manipulate the democratic system for personal gain and have accordingly failed to abide by its principles, practices and values for general welfare. Instead of building discipline, fairness and strong institutions, we have opted to build our democracy around networks of loyalty, political protection and self-interest.

When power becomes more important than principle, when truth becomes negotiable, and when the ballot becomes a weapon instead of a voice, then democracy stands at a crossroads, and finally crumples, giving way to the exercise of power and authority without a human face. This is where we are today. The June 24, 2023 multitier elections stand as a pivotal moment in Sierra Leone’s democratic journey. Reported turnout was impressively high at 83%, reflecting the people’s enduring faith in the ballot box. Yet, this faith was seriously shaken as results were announced and winners proclaimed, without a legitimate vote count. Domestic observers, international observers, the opposition and the people raised serious concerns about transparency, irregularities, inconsistencies in vote-counting, and the credibility of the entire electoral process. The main opposition party, the APC, rejected the results, and mistrust deepened.

The heavily rigged June 2023 elections did not merely produce a foundational dispute. They have seriously exposed the fragility of our democratic fabric and its vulnerability to selfish political leadership. They have tested the integrity of our institutions, the courage of our citizens, and the commitment of our international partners. Clearly, when elections are disputed, the very foundations of political, economic and social governance are shattered, and everything else falls apart. At the heart of Sierra Leone’s democratic test lies one defining struggle, the fight for electoral justice. This is not a partisan struggle. It is a national obligation. For when elections cease to reflect the people’s will, governance ceases to reflect the people’s consent. And without consent, democracy becomes hollow.

Electoral justice, therefore, is the cornerstone of political legitimacy, peace, and progress. It is the assurance that every vote counts, every citizen matters, and every result is anchored in truth. The events surrounding the June 2023 elections have underscored just how urgent this fight has become. They revealed not only procedural weaknesses but a moral crisis in leadership and institutional accountability, courage, and conscience. This is why the internationally mediated inter-party dialogue between the APC and SLPP government, the Agreement for National Unity and the Tripartite Committee and its recommendations were not just administrative mechanisms; they were a moral necessity. They represent a collective recognition that something is fundamentally wrong with our democratic governance, climaxing with the June 24, 2023, election events, and that we must, with honesty and courage, right the wrongs. Implementing the outcomes of these mechanisms is not an act of concession; it is an act of restoration – restoring the confidence of the people in their democracy, the credibility of our elections, and the legitimacy of those who govern in their name.

Distinguished participants, we must understand this moment in its depth. The question before us is not merely about who won or lost an election. It is about whether Sierra Leone will continue as a democracy guided by law, fairness, and truth or drift toward a system governed by fear, manipulation, and impunity. It is from this foundation that we must begin our collective effort to move Sierra Leone forward, anchored in truth, guided by justice, and inspired by the courage to do what is right, not what is easy. The truth is that the cracks in our democratic foundation did not just appear overnight. They emerged and deepened gradually through complacency, through the personalisation of power, through the politicisation of institutions, and through the quiet erosion of accountability. Over time, we built systems that looked democratic on paper but were often compromised in practice.

As we reflect on sixty-four years of independence, let us be humble enough to acknowledge our missteps, yet bold enough to correct them. Let us remember that democracy is not the absence of conflict, but the presence of fairness, not the silence of dissent, but the protection of voices. Our generation, therefore, stands at a moral crossroads: to either continue patching over the cracks or to repair the foundation once and for all. And that foundation must be built on truth, freedom, justice, and democracy – principles that cannot be negotiated, postponed, or suppressed. Distinguished participants, the path before us is not one of despair, but of determination. Sierra Leone’s future will not be defined by the challenges of the moment, but by the courage with which we continue to confront them sustainably, fairly and with strong determination and conviction. The question before us is not whether democracy can be restored, but whether we have the moral will to restore it now, faithfully, peacefully, and resolutely.

As I reflect on our current reality, I do not see a failed state, but a nation yearning for renewal. Yes, a Sierra Leone Renewal. I do not see a defeated people, but a resilient citizenry, ready to reclaim their right to be governed through fairness and truth. The task ahead demands honesty, discipline, and unity of purpose. Distinguished guests, colleagues, and friends of Sierra Leone, as I bring these reflections to a close, I invite us all to look beyond the horizon of today’s uncertainties and imagine a Sierra Leone reborn, governed by truth, guided by justice, and strengthened by the democratic values we all hold dear. Sierra Leone’s story is one of unfulfilled promises. Possessing resources, expertise, dedicated individuals, and ethical strength, we are equipped to reshape our democracy so that it not only lasts but also serves as a source of inspiration. But for this transformation to take root, we must each play our part with integrity, patience, and resolve. We must restore the credibility of our institutions and the sanctity of the vote. These are acts of patriotism and the way forward for a nation determined to reconcile, to reform, and to rise again.

Let us remember that democracy is not a gift that others can perfect for us, it is a duty that we must perfect ourselves. Every generation of Sierra Leoneans must renew this covenant, ensuring that the sacrifices of those before us were not in vain. In this effort, I reaffirm my unwavering commitment to peaceful democratic change, to justice without vengeance, and to leadership that unites rather than divides. Sierra Leone’s progress will not come from the noise of confrontation, but from the discipline of consensus; not from rhetoric, but from results. To our international partners, I extend gratitude for your continued engagement and principled support. The compelling fight for electoral justice now, and electoral reform therefrom in Sierra Leone, is not an isolated struggle; it is part of the broader global commitment to protect democracy wherever it is tested or challenged. (Photos: Dr Samura Kamara and Maada Bio).

To my fellow Sierra Leoneans, both at home and across the world, to our political parties, to our media and social bloggers, to all civil society organisations, and to all religious leaders, we cannot lose faith in the very ideals that define us. The spirit of resilience that saw us through our darkest days remains our greatest asset. It is time to channel that spirit not into division, but into development, not into fear, but into freedom. Sierra Leone’s future is not predetermined; it is shaped by the actions we take today, tomorrow and the day after. I stand before you tonight not as a man of grievance, but as a messenger of renewal. I believe deeply that, no matter how long it takes to toil, truth will prevail, justice will be done, and Sierra Leone will find a secure seat among global democracies.

May this forum, held in recognition of the United Nations International Day for Tolerance, serve as a reminder that tolerance is the bridge between peace and progress. It is through dialogue, respect, and steadfast adherence to democratic values that nations heal and societies advance. Let us therefore move forward with conviction, confident that the moral arc of Sierra Leone’s history, though bent, will always curve toward justice, fairness, and truth. What I will make clear is that while I cannot provide a definitive timeline for the conclusion of Sierra Leone’s compelling transition, my resolve remains constant and optimistic. I stand firm in my commitment to defend with you our rights and to challenge the injustice of the stolen mandate in the 2023 elections.

This struggle, though uncertain in its duration, is not without hope. It is a winnable fight—one that demands unity, courage, and persistence. I call upon all who share my conviction to rally around your conscience, to remain steadfast in the pursuit of justice, and to continue pressing forward until the will of the people is restored. The path may be long, but the cause is just. With collective determination, Sierra Leone can reclaim its democratic integrity and secure a future built on fairness, accountability, and the true voice of its citizens. May our beloved country find peace, stability, and democratic renewal. Thank you, and may God bless us all.