Popular US-based Sierra Leonean author, Ishmael Beah has heavily criticised the Office of National Security for targeting international observers in the hours leading to the announcement of the 24 June presidential result.

“The development post of Sierra Leone’s elections continues to be more alarming. The government has now issued a national security press release targeting independent election observers, despite the recognition by all international actors from United States, Germany, Ireland and the European Union and more of their work.

“This is the same modus operandi used in august protests to crush Sierra Leoneans’ right to protest,” Beah said.

He added that the government made use of a “dangerously vague cyber security law” to refer to protesters as “terrorists and insurrectionists”.

“The Act was even used to arrest bloggers for simply voicing their opinions,” he said.

Beah’s condemnation from the ONS followed after the State Security institution issued press release against a local elections observer, National Election Watch (NEW).

The ONS said the report made by NEW was “erroneously regarded as authentic by Development Partners”.

The Security Sector cited that the joint communique by six Development Partners saying the 24 June polls were not transparent is due to the analyses made by NEW.

Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) announced the incumbent Julius Maada Bio as winner of the presidential election hours after NEW said the election will head into runoff.