In a shocking revelation from the recent Court Martial trial, Lieutenant Zainab Amara Suwu, the only female officer among the accused, has been exposed as a key player in the failed coup attempt against President Julius Maada Bio’s government.
The trial unearthed how Suwu was recruited into the Kalamera Security Network for APC, a clandestine group accused of plotting to overthrow the government following the June 24, 2023 elections.
Court evidence, including WhatsApp conversations, revealed that Major Patrick Abu Ordende Sesay, alias PAO, facilitated Suwu’s recruitment. The messages showed how Major PAO sought Suwu’s consent to join the secret group, which included police, military officers, and APC stakeholders. In the conversations, Suwu agreed to provide military intelligence, referring to herself as a “spy in the intelligence unit.”
On June 24 and 30, 2023, Major PAO submitted Suwu’s details to Corporal Mohamed Alie Tholley, an administrator of the group, who remains on the run since the plot was foiled on July 29, 2023. Despite her intelligence role in the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF), Suwu reportedly leaked sensitive information to the group, influenced by her romantic relationship with Major PAO.
During the trial, the prosecution presented compelling evidence, including the WhatsApp messages, showing Suwu’s willingness to aid the subversive activities. Her actions were deemed a breach of duty, leading to her conviction on four counts of Mutiny, Failure to Suppress Mutiny, and Desertion. She was sentenced to 50 years imprisonment.
Lieutenant Suwu’s conviction makes her the second female officer in Sierra Leone’s history to be found guilty of coup-related offences, following Major Kula Samba in 1998. However, unlike Samba—who was executed—Suwu’s sentence was limited to imprisonment due to the abolition of the death penalty under the 2022 Abolition of Death Penalty Act.
This case marks a significant chapter in Sierra Leone’s military history, highlighting the complexities of loyalty, power, and betrayal within the armed forces.
