Sylvia Blyden Releases Transcripts Alleging Interference by Carter Center in Sierra Leone Elections
Aaron Parker Former Minister and politician Sylvia Blyden has released transcripts of a conversation purportedly involving Dr. Samura Kamara, the presidential candidate of the All People’s Congress (APC), during an engagement with APC members in the UK on May 7th, 2023.
These transcripts contain allegations that the Carter Center, an institution headed by former U.S. Ambassador Cameron Hume, conspired with the main opposition flag bearer to interfere in Sierra Leone’s recent elections.
The controversy arose after Cameron Hume, also the leader of the Carter Center’s Sierra Leone Election Observation Mission, criticized the 2023 elections in Sierra Leone, claiming that they were marred by flaws. In an interview with the BBC, Hume pointed out that these flaws contributed to the re-election of President Julius Maada Bio.
Hume’s remarks implied that the opposition candidate, Dr. Samura Kamara, had rejected the election results due to these flaws, which resulted in President Bio securing 56% of the vote. Hume clarified that the uncertainty surrounding the results was primarily due to errors in the ballot counting process and did not necessarily indicate a superior performance by Kamara.
Seeking clarification on these allegations, Dr. Sylvia Blyden engaged the services of prominent U.S. lawyer W. Bruce Del Valle, Esquire, specializing in civil, constitutional, and international human rights law. Del Valle was tasked with contacting the Carter Center to verify whether it is true that three months ago, in March 2023, the Carter Center told the APC Presidential Candidate Dr. Samura Kamara that the Carter Center was so broke that the Center needed the APC to go and lobby for money to be given to Carter Center.
Dr. Blyden recently revealed that Del Valle confirmed the safe delivery of a three-page letter, written on her behalf, to the Carter Center in Atlanta on June 29th, 2023. Additionally, a copy of the letter was sent to the National Democratic Institute in Washington DC. The letter contains an attached 88-second video of Dr. Samura Kamara, along with its transcript.
Multiple recipients were copied on the letter, including the United States Ambassador in Freetown, H.E. David Reimer, Sierra Leone’s Chief Electoral Commissioner Mohamed Kenewui Konneh, former ambassador Cameron R. Hume, who led the Carter Center Mission in Sierra Leone, and Sylvia Blyden herself.
Sierra Leone remains in a state of anticipation as citizens eagerly await further information and clarification on the claims made by Sylvia Blyden and the subsequent response from the Carter Center and other involved entities.
The transcript translated by Sylvia Blyden Reads;
“We went to Carter Center in Atlanta. Carter Center said to us: “We want to go to Sierra Leone but our pockets are too tight right now. Since you are going to America [capital city Washington DC] to meet Senators and also you are going to meet those Institutions who they [Senators] give money and which Institutions then fund us from such monies, please go and talk to them for us. They will listen to you”.
“And indeed, God is wonderful. The week we went to America is the week they call the Week of Budget Appropriation. It is the time America decides how to share and distribute monies to all their Ministries, their Departments, all the Institutions. God is wonderful oh! One Institution where we went to talk, they call it National Democratic Institute; they have a branch in Sierra Leone. They support us on Elections business. They support Elections Observers Missions particularly the likes of NEW (National Elections Watch) in Sierra Leone; those local observers. They (National Democratic Institute) are the ones who get to receive this [Budget Appropriation] money and when they get this money, they give to their other friendly Partners based there in America.
“So there [at National Democratic Institute] is where we met a certain man and we personally explained to him about the issue [of Carter Center]. By the time we returned from America, we got word that they had given the required money to Carter Center. So we did that!!!”
God will continues to exposed those people who don’t want peace in this country.
Madam Silvia I have said it before now that you are an exceptional woman.Realy you love this country.May Allah guide and sincerely direct you towards your pursuit for sincere patriotic Sierra Leoneans in the political dispensation of our beloved nation.
I pray that Prezo will call upon you and accept to work with him as one of the cabinet members just for the sustainability and development of this nation. You are worth celebrating Ma’am, I admired you so much for being a vibrant and honest citizen ever seen in this part of the world, ooh yes! You are a true mentor indeed.
By His grace, Lord Almighty will expose all those with evil plans that will disturb the peace of this country.
Glory be to God in the highest. Those who rebelled against peace in our country, may God set a wicked evil person over them, drive them out of their dwelling places. Mr.Hume is Donald Trump son, and we don’t want any Donald Trumps in Sierra Leone. May God almighty punish all those causing chaos in our country. Amen!
May you live love ma , you really love this our beloved country
Thank you very much Madam Sylvia, God will richly bless you and your family. We are looking for people who love Sierra Leone 🇸🇱 just like you. Our heavenly father will surely expose people who want to bring civil war in to our country.
Sylvia is a disgrace to this nation, whom do u think will believe u? You were the very one praising the former president as the best president ever in Sierra Leone. Now u take a U-turn criticising him and the APC. Only a fool can believe u
Sylvia you think your “Lay-Beleh” Politics will land you a ministerial job in Bio’s Government? Just as you are stopping very low on pleasing Fatima.
Fen betteh tin do because nobody nor dae listen to you nonsense.
May the Lord Almighty God bless Dr. Sylvia and give you success in all your undertakings.
The Truth is Redemptive!
Tell the truth with no respect of person, political affiliation or party interest. Be the last woman still standing Ma
This barrel and which craft is trying by all means to destroy the sweet democracy we have in that country… Just because of her stupid grievances against the APC party.
You are a disgrace to sierra Leone useless being demented material, you need psychotherapy you are suffering from mental illness twwww
She loves Sierra Leone not party
Dr Slyvia O. Blyden is a true patriot of Sierra Leone 🇸🇱. The Carter Centre did what is not expected of them. They were to observe but secretly became an active player. Therefore, Dr Blyden deems it necessary to undress them. And she is the most competent to do it.
Sylvia Bliden has raised the bar high for other women to emulate.