Samura Kamara Raises Alarm After Armed Security Personnel Allegedly Block His Freetown Residence

Dr. Samura Kamara, the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) party’s 2023 presidential candidate, has expressed grave concern over what he describes as an armed blockade and occupation of his two residences in Freetown by security personnel.

In a statement released on Labor Day, Kamara described the incident as deeply troubling and a threat not only to his personal safety and that of his family but also to the peace and stability of Sierra Leone. He called on the international community and the moral guarantors of Sierra Leone’s political transition to urgently intervene.

“I am deeply concerned and apprehensive that armed security personnel have occupied and blockaded my two residences in Freetown on this Labor Day,” Kamara wrote. “As the APC party’s presidential candidate for the June 2023 elections, I urge the international community and moral guarantors of the ongoing political transition in Sierra Leone to intervene promptly and address this security matter.”

He further appealed to President Julius Maada Bio to take immediate steps to de-escalate the situation. “I call on the international community to call upon President Julius Maada Bio to prioritize peace and take swift action to ameliorate this ugly and potentially explosive situation,” he stated.

Kamara warned that the ongoing situation places the lives of his family, his associates, and the broader population of peaceful Sierra Leoneans at serious risk.

As of now, there has been no official statement from the government or security forces explaining the reasons for the reported blockade.

The development comes amid continued political tensions following the disputed 2023 elections and ongoing efforts to stabilize the country’s democratic institutions. The international community, including ECOWAS, the African Union, and the United Nations, has previously pledged support for peace and dialogue in Sierra Leone.