A BBC News Africa TV documentary unveiled yesterday has shed light on severe political violence, intimidation, and harassment perpetrated by security forces and ruling party agents in Sierra Leone in the lead-up to last year’s elections.
Mayor of Freetown, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, takes center stage in the documentary, revealing harrowing scenes where she and opposition APC party presidential candidate and leader, Dr. Samura Kamara, narrowly escaped assassination as security forces opened fire on the APC party office, resulting in one fatality.
In an official statement, Mayor Aki-Sawyerr expressed gratitude for the documentary’s recognition, stating, “I am honoured to have my work featured in a BBC documentary and would like to thank On Our Radar and the BBC News Africa for this recognition.”
She further elucidated on the timeline of events, stating, “In November 2022, documentary producers On Our Radar proposed a BBC documentary focusing on my work as Mayor on the climate crisis. The film crew followed me from January to August 2023, capturing my day-to-day activities.”
The turbulent atmosphere leading up to Sierra Leone’s presidential and general elections in June 2023 witnessed a surge in political violence, pushing the nation perilously close to widespread anarchy and chaos. Security forces, aligned with the government, launched brutal attacks on opposition politicians and their supporters, leaving one dead and several injured within the opposition All People’s Congress (APC) Party headquarters in Freetown.
Amidst mounting concerns over the fairness of the elections, videos surfaced implicating senior opposition SLPP politicians, including President Fatima Bio’s wife, Mrs. Fatima Bio, in inciting political violence and intimidation. Calls for investigations by the International Criminal Court have ensued.
The grim reality of the situation is underscored by allegations that over the two years leading to the 2023 elections, more than a hundred unarmed protesters, including 67 prisoners and opposition supporters, fell victim to security force brutality, with suspicions of involvement by ruling party agents in some instances.
