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The government of Sierra Leone has deployed heavily armed police and military personnel to various parts of Freetown ahead of today’s protest by the opposition All People’s Congress (APC).
The APC had said that it would stage a peaceful march to the office of the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone (ECSL) in Freetown following the failure of the Chief Electoral Commissioner, Mohammed Konneh and his electoral commissioners to resign or address their concerns regarding the forthcoming election as demanded in an earlier press conference.
The peaceful protest was earlier scheduled to hold on Sunday but was postponed after the Inspector General of Police refused to grant the party approval, citing late notification.
Despite a meeting with the ECSL, and other international bodies on Monday, the APC said there was no headway, and it will go ahead with its planned demonstration if their demands are not met.
“We want to unequivocally state here that, if all the issues are not resolved in today’s 12pm meeting, be notified that we have now call out our supporters nation-wide to converge in designated areas to be communicated by the Party for a peaceful protest on Wednesday 21st June, 2023. As it will be a peaceful procession, we urge your personnel to be peaceful with civilians and to provide us with the required protection.”, a statement by the party on Tuesday said.
Responding to the APC’s announcement, the police cited Section 17 (2) of the Public Order Act No. 46 of 1965, which grants the Commissioner of Police, and in this case, the IGP, the authority to disallow or impose conditions on any procession if it poses a risk to defense, public order, public safety, or public morality. The APC was further invited to another meeting with the Inspector General of Police and his senior management team at Police Headquarters on Wednesday, June 21, 2023, at 10:00 hours for further discussion and planning concerning the intended peaceful march.
It is not particularly clear if the protest will go ahead as scheduled. However, heavy military and police presence has been spotted in various parts of Freetown. A video shared by SierraEyeSalone showed at least 10 officers stationed around St John in Freetown. It was also gathered that the route leasing to the APC headquarters has been barricaded.
“Armed police are stationed outside the Police headquarters on George Street via Siaka Stevens Street with police trucks parading the central business district but everything remains peaceful for now.”, a witness said.
That is a good one. No one should try the government. Whoever does should face the full force of the law.
My Advice is that they should leave no stone unturned in ensuring that the peace of this country counts above political party politics and bigotry .
We pray for peaceful Election
Guinea taking over Yenga and you cowards are just their intimidating your citizens instead of defending you land fron intruders.
Sure. This an early warning to all those who want to disturb our peace for their personal gains . At point it is baseless, all their cries are just form of saying tHat they are not prepared for the big day . If you failed to plan, then you planned to fail.
Only selfish and fools will give such comments
What this country is turning to, citizens don’t have the right demonstrate again, God help our Nation.
Hahaaaa kaka dae Falla fat teday. Quietly in my small corner watching the drama as it unfolds.
We voted during the rebel war so no APC terror tactics will prevent the 24th June Polls from going ahead. If you are aggrieved you have the option to go to Court and seek redress. You cannot take to the streets and infringe on the rights of other citizens.
Maada Bio is a coward, why he fail to send his Mende and SLPP soldiers to resist the Guinean troop that took over Yenga. Your people were calling on you for you stop these Guineans soldiers when constructing their pillars, did he say or do anything? No. Late Ahmed Tejan Kabba and Former Ernest Bai Koroma has done all their to see that Yenga belongs to Sierra Leone. When it to come ordinary citizens right to demonstrate, you want to use you Mende and SLPP soldiers against them. We are patiently waiting coz Karma will visit you one day. The evil that men do lives after them.
Why this one for happen to our lovely country mama salon
This is the worst government Sierra Leone has ever had, were are the religious leaders, were are the stakeholders, civil societies, they are all bunch of hypocrites, what is wrong if ECSL did the right thing they all just sit down shut up without saying the truth the day of reckoning will come.
PEACE PEACE PEACE!!!THAT’S WHAT WE ALL NEED RIGHT???THEN LET THERE BE JUSTICE AND FAIR PLAY, BECAUSE ANY NATION IN THIS WHOLE WIDE WORLD THAT IGNORE THIS WILL ALWAYS HAVE PROBLEMS
C´est quoi l´importance de tout ça ?
Juste pour le pouvoir, ils enfou de notre vie , seul ce que ils demandent c´est le pouvoir, mais je vous informe que Allah ne dorm pas, le jour de jugement on le saura.
God help sierra Leone this is turning into something else
We pray God’s guidance and protection in this Country
Peace in Sierra Leone is beeter than selfish political ambitions. Let us maintain peace and go to the pools on satirday to exercise our rights.
What goes around comes around. One day they will pay for all this. Blood fights. Killing people to satisfy your own good. All this this is laziness. You think that you cannot succeed in life without politics. All what you are grabbing is Vanity.