A leaked phone conversation has ignited controversy within Sierra Leone’s main opposition, the All People’s Congress (APC), exposing alleged internal divisions and betrayal in the wake of the June 24, 2023 elections.
The audio recording, reportedly featuring former President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma, suggests that APC’s 2023 presidential candidate, Dr. Samura Kamara, engaged in private discussions with President Julius Maada Bio without consulting key party stakeholders.
According to the leaked conversation, Koroma accused Kamara of using intermediaries to target certain party members while failing to distance himself from bloggers who criticized the APC leadership.
The former president recounted confronting Kamara about the bloggers’ attacks, claiming Kamara denied involvement but never publicly condemned their remarks.
Koroma also alleged that sensitive details from his private discussions with Kamara were later echoed by bloggers, raising concerns about internal leaks.
Additionally, he pointed to a meeting involving Kamara, Minkailu, Yansaneh, and Tunis, where it was revealed that Kamara had met with President Bio to establish an internal conflict resolution mechanism within the APC.
The former president distanced himself from the matter, asserting that he was no longer the party’s chairman or presidential candidate and urging the current leadership to take charge.
Expressing frustration, Koroma suggested that if the party had taken decisive action after the election, the ongoing crisis might have been avoided. Drawing from his experience in electoral processes in Kenya and Zambia, he emphasized the need for political unity and integrity.
The leaked audio has intensified debates about APC’s leadership and stability, coming at a time when the party is undergoing reforms under an 84-resolution agreement. While neither Samura Kamara nor the APC leadership has issued an official response, the revelations raise critical questions about trust, internal cohesion, and the party’s future ahead of upcoming political challenges.
