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The United States Embassy in Freetown has refused to comment on the allegations leveled against it by President Julius Maada Bio on the outcome of the 2023 general elections in Sierra Leone.
On Friday, Bio accused US officials of calling him and requested that he halt the scheduled announcement of the results and asked that the elections go into a second round.
“The Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone (ECSL) had done all their calculations, collations, all the processes. I was now requested to stop them from calling the result by the United States. So, I don’t know who is accusing who of interference,” Bio said in an interview conducted at an event at the American University in Washington on Friday.
The US had expressed concerns regarding the transparency of the election procedures, particularly during the tallying phase.
In Freetown, the US Mission and representatives from the European Union, France, Ireland, and Germany jointly voiced their concerns over the transparency of the vote-counting process. The ECSL, however, maintained that the announced results on June 27 genuinely represented the wishes of the Sierra Leonean electorate. They emphasized that they operated strictly within the nation’s electoral laws.
In his statement, President Bio added that the US questioning the integrity of the 2023 elections was akin to endorsing a coup. He stated, “When the United States casts doubt on an election that was considered the most peaceful, not my words, but the observers… you are calling for a coup,”
When contacted to speak on the allegations leveled by Bio, Sarah Van Horne, the Public Affairs Officer of United States Embassy in Freetown refused to give a response adding that the Embassy doesn’t comment on private diplomatic conversations.
It would be recalled that Bryan Hunt, the new U.S. Ambassador to Sierra Leone presented his credentials of President Julius Maada Bio at the State House in Freetown on Monday. He replaced David Reimer who held the position since January 19, 2021.
President Bio have said the facts, the ECSL is a separate body.The president has no right to stop them .
Is the ECSL a Separate body? Are you serious
Stop misleading the public
Disgusting 🤮🤮. The only reason APC is misbehaving.
The president is right. Our election was considered the most peaceful. Comment like that from the US will do nothing but create problems in our nation. We respect the US as diplomatic partners, and we appreciate their role, but statements like that will stir problems in our nation. Thanks for putting it to them.
That U.S. Ambassador is highly responsible for all the misbehaviour of the main opposition party APC. So President Bio was telling the truth.
What ever institution operated in Sierra Leone is under the president. So what the illegitimate president is saying.
This president is no nonsense leader to him round for your hiding agenda.
Shame on APC en em supporters. Tay now Trump en em followers nor cam to terms with dem 2020 elections
Sometimes na Trump supporter. So na d same nonsense e wan bring cam.
For the APc illiterates, ECSL is semi-autonomous body that is approved by parliament meaning parliament gave the job to do to ECSL and only parliament can revoke their authority. President Bio belongs to the executive and the parliament is a legislative body if you really do understand what am talking about. How can he stop a decision of a body not accountable to him? APC the earlier you realize yourself and go to the drawing board in preparation for 2028 the better for you. You are just wasting your time. All the foolish write ups, the propagandas, America visa ban, the stupid boycutting of partiament can not negate the fact that President Bio is the legitimate president of Sierra Leone and will continue to be until 2028. The earlier you adjust to this reality the better for you all otherwise you the APC will continue to be in pain for the next 5 years and 2028 will find you not planned to contest because the energy you were to spend on planning for 2028 would have been spent already on fruitless endeavour and you continue to cry foul again.
I’ve read the above messages, mind you guys this is not about party anymore, it’s about mama salone, what i know for sure is the evil that men do lives after & this is another lie to the highest standards & karma will surely judge them, let’s wait and see
Bio is always digging holes for himself.
What goes around comes around 🙏🙏🙏😄
Not because an election was in favor of your party you say is free, fair and peaceful. It was never peaceful. People went to the polls with grudge and fear of the SLPP thugs Bio has amass in the country. I went to Iraq with most of those guys he engaged as his personal security. And to talk of separation of power in Sierra Leone is Ludicrous. When the sham parliament was about to open, who they said is to opened it? Bio. The speaker is head of parliament. And is selected in the majority party in parliament. Did that happen when Bio won the other fake 2017 election? No. Sierra Leone is talking of sovereign. But we are not following the rule of law. To be respected and hold to high esteem, we must earn that respect from international community. Now Bio is going the right way by challenging the world superpower America. Whatever you talk in diplomatic phone calls should be classified. But Bio don’t know those ethics because he is not legitimately elected But rather imposed by konneh to the Sierra Leone people. If you get 56% of an election, and rest the votes us shared by other political parties, how can APC amass such great numbers to protect against you SLPP? When the results were announced, only few went out to jubilate and cause destruction along abacha street. The crowd I know when a party genuinely win an election was not there. This impasse will continue till the truth comes out.
ECSL is not an autonomous body. They were instructed by the president, to do something that, pleased the president.
Please guys the so-called US needs to back off but I don’t blame them, I blame our government they have been selling their rights to them.
Some of you are just bragging that the stolen elections is free and fair,the so call the ECSL konneh SLPP announced the cooked results that was prepared by Mr Bio SLPP and his team.they even put konneh SLPP under gun point if he didn’t announced the results in favour of Mr Bio,Then you are sitting down in your conner telling the USA to avoid us when things are going worst everyday in sierraleone 🇸🇱
This man called himself president is too foolish 😡
APC always mislead their supporter with propaganda information also they don’t have the the interest of the country, they only care of misleading their illiterate support
He appointed him so that, he will rigged the election in his favour so exactly what he did. This time the truth will come from their very selves.
Interesting May Allah guide us the right way
ECSL nar Scam in all aspects but the end will justify the mean.
We worked for you no pay, the God we serve will arrest all of you.
As far as am concern the Election was never fear because the atmosphere was tense because the Election the have planned everything in favour of the SLPP because their fear was if the Loss they will be brought to book for all they have done to the people of Sierra Leone. One thing I know is that the secret thing belong to God and one day God will fight for His people and deliver Sierra Leone in Jesus Name
Allah see us through
The Constitution mandate every sitting president to appoint the Electoral Commission.
What is wrong with citizens
Apc conducted election in 2018 an they loss and later blame international.so what do think if someone else conducted,what will be their reaction?
Rigged elections