An Irish High Court has denied asylum and subsidiary protection to a Sierra Leonean man (name withheld) who claimed that he would likely be imprisoned, tortured and killed if returned to Sierra Leone due to his affiliation with the opposition All People’s Congress (APC) party.

The 44-year-old Muslim man alleged he served as a secretary and youth leader for the APC, and as a bodyguard to the former First Lady Sia Nyama Koroma. He traveled to the United Kingdom in 2017 and overstayed his visa, later entering Ireland in 2020 and seeking asylum.

The basis of his asylum plea rested on a narrative of political conflict during the 2018 general election, where the APC lost, and its supporters allegedly faced harassment without intervention from authorities.

He said his home was targeted, he was threatened, and his wife advised him to stay away for his safety. He further claimed the police accused him of inciting violence, despite being abroad at the time. He feared torture and death if returned.

The International Protection Office (IPO) rejected his asylum application on June 3, 2022, disputing key elements such as his claimed roles within the APC and the accusations of inciting violence. The Appeals Tribunal upheld an earlier decision, citing “dubious” evidence and inconsistencies in the man’s story. Additionally, his failure to seek asylum in the UK raised concerns about the genuineness of his fear in Ireland.

The decision leaves the man’s future uncertain. He faces a potential return to Sierra Leone, though he could explore further legal options to appeal the ruling.