This is because the illegal and undemocratic SLPP regime of Julius Maada Bio will never lay its hands on the MCC grants despite wild rumours that the MCC money is on its way to Sierra Leone at this point in time. “It is practically and morally impossible to hand over the grants to the Sierra Leone government for various reasons primarily for the lack of democratic dispensation in the country today. No need to worry,” a diplomat in the US confided. (Photo: MCC is keen on Sierra Leone democracy).

Reports have proved that Sierra Leoneans should be very optimistic that the MCC money is not coming now even though the MCC issue has been mentioned in recent times. The point at issue is that as the Tripartite Investigations Committee takes positive steps forward, the MCC issue will also move forward. Remember that every facet of the current situation in Sierra Leone is intrinsically linked to all international institutions that are working closely in the implementation of democracy in Sierra Leone.

When the Tripartite probe succeeds and by extension, the success of democracy through the electoral reformation process, the MCC money would also move closure to Sierra Leone. All what is happening now is like a trap trapping Maada Bio into the deepest part of the point of no return. And slowly, Maada Bio is entering the trap unconsciously. The MCC grant has always been the dream of the Bio presidency. The international community knows that. That is why the MCC money is linked with the success of the Tripartite Committee. (Photo: Maada Bio stole the June 24, 2023 elections from Dr Samura Kamara, left).

The success story of the Tripartite is a forgone conclusion. It is just a matter time for the Tripartite Committee recommendations to be aired, which would definitely favour the majority of the people. It will be implemented and be actionable in full. No doubt about that. Before the commencement of the National Peace Dialogue in October last year which born the Communique that eventually produced the Tripartite Investigations Committee, it was clear then that the MCC issue was completed suspended under the Bio regime.

But after the signing of the Peace Communique on October 18, 2023 by the SLPP party represented by its Chief Minister Dr David Moinina Sengeh and the APC leader Dr Samura Kamara witnessed publicly by representatives from the African Union, ECOWAS, United States, United Kingdom, European Union etc., the resurgence of the MCC issue became a reality. Sierra Leone was immediately re-admitted into the MCC Compact family, which meant, there was progress in the democratic dispensation in the country.

One good turn deserves another, as the popular adage goes. The ongoing Tripartite Investigations Committee is just one institution intrinsically working together with vital internal and external stakeholders mandated to restore democracy and the peoples’ votes of June 24, 2023 general and presidential elections which was cruelly stolen by Maada Bio and his SLPP cronies from the hands of the actual winner Dr Samura Kamara of the APC party. The reformation of the electoral laws in Sierra Leone is among the pre-requisites set that will be considered as the Tripartite Committee probe progresses.

This means invariably that the continuation of the MCC negotiations with the illegal Sierra Leone SLPP regime does not mean the $500 US dollars grant would be dished out instantly. It just shows that there has been significant progress in the Tripartite Investigations and other democratic issues. The irony here is very clear. The more successful the Tripartite is, the more problems Maada Bio would face as Bio’s vision is anathema to democratic rule. Keen political analysts believe ultimately when the Tripartite Committee recommendations have been implemented in full, the people would benefit while Maada Bio and his electoral thieves would wallow in misery. Ironic indeed!