Court Martial: How Lt. Zainab Suwu Was Recruited into Alleged Rebel WhatsApp Group for APC

The recent Court Martial trial of Lieutenant Zainab Amara Suwu has revealed shocking details about her recruitment into a the alleged rebel whatsapp group, which aimed at destabilizing Sierra Leone’s government.

The trial, which focused on the State versus Major Patrick Abu Ordende Sesay, alias PAO, and five others, brought to light serious accusations against the defendants, including mutiny and conspiracy against President Julius Maada Bio.

During the proceedings, prosecution lawyers presented a range of documentary evidence, including WhatsApp conversations between Major PAO and Lieutenant Suwu. Those messages, detailed in the trial, showcased Major PAO soliciting Lieutenant Suwu’s consent to join the KALAMERA Security Network for the All People’s Congress (APC). The group reportedly aimed to share military intelligence to support actions against the current administration.

The WhatsApp exchanges revealed that Major PAO explicitly sought someone who could vouch for Lieutenant Suwu’s loyalty to the group. Lieutenant Suwu responded positively, asserting her readiness to contribute intelligence as a member. “I am a spy in the intelligence unit,” she stated in one of the conversations.

After confirming her recruitment, the report stated that Major PAO shared Lieutenant Suwu’s personal information with Corporal Mohamed Alie Tholley, an administrator of the KALAMERA group, who has since been evading capture following the thwarting of the coup plot in July 2023.

Notably, the trial also brought to light a personal relationship between Major PAO and Lieutenant Suwu, which Major PAO allegedly used to influence her decision to join the rebel efforts. Despite her assignment as an intelligence officer for the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF), Lieutenant Suwu’s actions contributed to her convictions on multiple counts, ultimately leading to her 50 years sentencement to prison.

Reportedly, Lieutenant Suwu is now recognized as the second female officer in Sierra Leone’s military history to be convicted for involvement in a coup attempt, following Major Kula Samba, who was executed in 1998 under previous laws that allowed for the death penalty.

Contrastingly, it is evident that Lieutenant Suwu and her co-defendants would not face execution due to the abolishment of capital punishment in 2022. Instead, they would serve life sentences, which in that case, entails a minimum of 30 years for their offences.