Former Cabinet Minister and political commentator Dr. Sylvia Olayinka Blyden has marked the fifth anniversary of her release from detention with a bold public statement reflecting on her personal resilience, political persecution, and the state of Sierra Leone’s democracy.

In a powerful Facebook post dated June 24, 2025, Dr. Blyden described her 2020 detention as “unlawful” and “politically engineered,” alleging that actors from both the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) and her own All People’s Congress (APC) colluded to silence her.

“I walked out of prison, released after a two-month detention that was as unlawful as it was inane,” she wrote. “It was orchestrated by politicians across both major parties who resented my efforts to defend democratic principles.”

The outspoken former minister who served under the Koroma-led APC administration used the milestone to reflect not only on her ordeal but also on her enduring political aspirations. “A true leader stands tall, smiles, forgives, and smiles again,” she noted, suggesting that the experience strengthened her belief that she is “moulded for the ultimate seat,” a reference to her long-rumoured presidential ambitions.

Dr. Blyden also revisited the emotional moment of her release by re-sharing her original words from June 24, 2020. In that post, she described standing on the verandah of her Cockle Bay residence, reflecting on what she called a nation “filled with Patriots, Traitors, Valiants, Cowards, Loyalists, Opportunists…”

She expressed gratitude to those who campaigned for her release during her time at the Special Court female prison and offered special thanks to veteran lawyer Charles Francis Margai, whom she praised for his relentless legal advocacy.

Though her charges in 2020 were never publicly clarified in detail, her detention drew concern from rights groups and civil society actors who questioned its legitimacy and apparent political undertones. Her case was widely seen as a test of Sierra Leone’s democratic tolerance for dissenting voices.

Now, five years later, Blyden’s anniversary message has reignited debates about political freedom and justice in Sierra Leone, particularly in a climate where opposition figures continue to allege political intimidation and selective justice.

While congratulating President Julius Maada Bio on his appointment as ECOWAS Chair, Blyden’s message also served as a veiled call for national reflection. “The events of 2020 were a spiritual signpost,” she wrote. “One that should guide us all as Sierra Leoneans on our collective journey toward real democracy.”

As the nation heads into a new political cycle, Dr. Blyden’s defiant stance and continued public engagement suggest she remains an active and unrelenting force in Sierra Leone’s evolving political landscape.