Freetown, Sierra Leone – Mohamed Kamarainba Mansaray, former presidential candidate and leader of the Alliance Democratic Party (ADP), has taken to social media to share emotional photos from his time in prison.
Accompanying the photos was a powerful caption accusing the government of President Julius Maada Bio of orchestrating his nearly four-year-long incarceration.
“Julius Maada Bio almost killed me, just for standing up for the people and being the voice for the voiceless in Sierra Leone,” Mansaray wrote.
He detailed the pain and suffering he endured behind bars, expressing gratitude for surviving the ordeal. “God kept me alive and will continue to protect me. These pictures were taken the week I was released from prison. I will never give up for my people and country. May God heal Sierra Leone.”
Mansaray, a prominent figure in Sierra Leone’s political landscape, first rose to national prominence during the 2015 by-elections in the Kambia District, where his ADP party gained significant attention for its reformist agenda. In the 2018 general elections, Mansaray ran for the presidency, positioning himself as an advocate for social justice, accountability, and the rights of marginalized citizens.
His political activism often placed him at odds with the ruling establishment. In 2020, Mansaray was arrested on charges related to sexual offense allegations, which he vehemently denied, describing them as politically motivated.
His prolonged pre-trial detention and subsequent imprisonment drew criticism from human rights organizations and opposition groups, who labeled the process as a miscarriage of justice aimed at silencing a vocal critic of the government.
Mansaray’s release in mid-2024 marked the end of a tumultuous chapter that highlighted issues within Sierra Leone’s judicial and political systems.
His social media post, showing his visibly weakened state during the final days of his imprisonment, has sparked widespread conversation about governance, justice, and the treatment of political opponents in the country.
As the country reflects on Mansaray’s ordeal, his vow to remain steadfast in advocating for the people of Sierra Leone has solidified his role as one of the nation’s enduring political voices.
See photos below:
