Full List of Opposition Politicians Who Have Gone to Prison Since Maada Bio Took Office
Sorie Abubakar The remand of Sierra Leone’s former Attorney-General and opposition lawyer Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara has renewed attention on opposition politicians and party supporters who have been arrested and held in custody since President Julius Maada Bio assumed office in April 2018.
A review of media reports, human rights documentation and other publicly available records identifies several opposition figures who have been remanded in prison or correctional facilities during Bio’s presidency. The cases involve different allegations, ranging from property damage and assault to incitement, corruption and alleged involvement in an attempted coup.
The following is a list of notable, documented cases. It is not an exhaustive register of every opposition member or supporter detained during the period.
Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara — October 2026
Former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara was remanded following a dispute at the Supreme Court over remarks he made during proceedings concerning the constitutional amendment cases.
Reports said Kamara appeared before the Court and apologised, but Chief Justice Komba Kamanda rejected the apology and ordered that he be taken into custody.
His remand followed a courtroom confrontation and was reported as a contempt-related matter, rather than a prosecution arising directly from his political activities.
Zainab Sheriff — April 2026
Zainab Sheriff, a popular entertainer, political activist and APC flagbearer aspirant, was arrested on 20 February 2026 and remanded at the Female Correctional Facility in Freetown over allegations of incitement and threatening language.
The charges arose from remarks she allegedly made at an opposition gathering at Brima Attouga Mini Stadium on 31 January 2026. Sheriff denied the allegations and argued that her comments were intended to discourage election rigging, not incite violence.
After repeated bail refusals, she was sentenced in April 2026 to four years and two months in prison.
Lansana Dumbuya — February 2026
The All People’s Congress (APC) Secretary-General, Lansana Dumbuya, was remanded at the Pademba Road Male Correctional Centre in Freetown after appearing before a magistrate on February 12, 2026.
He faced charges including incitement, insulting conduct and public insult against the President following remarks made at a political gathering.
Sierraloaded reported that Dumbuya had previously been detained on February 4 and released the following day before his subsequent court appearance and remand. His case is still ongoing.
Bai Mahmoud Bangura — 2023–2024
APC National Organising Secretary, Bai Mahmoud Bangura was arrested in November 2023 in connection with the investigation into the failed coup attempt of 26 November. He faced treason-related proceedings and remained in custody before being granted bail in July 2024 because of deteriorating health.
He was subsequently reported to have been exonerated by the High Court in November 2024.
Mohamed Bangura — September 2022
APC Member of Parliament Mohamed Bangura was remanded at the Pademba Road Correctional Centre after appearing before Magistrate Mark Ngegba in September 2022.
He faced charges including assault, obstruction, intimidation and riotous conduct arising from an incident involving Assistant Inspector General of Police Gabriel Tommy in Mathora Village, Tonkolili District, in June 2022.
The defence applied for bail, but the application was initially refused. Bangura was subsequently granted bail on September 15, 2022.
Yabom Sesay — September 2022
Yabom Sesay, then chairlady of the Tonkolili District Council and an APC political figure, was remanded alongside Mohamed Bangura over the same incident.
She faced allegations including riotous conduct, obstruction and assault-related offences. The accused denied the allegations through their legal proceedings, and the court initially refused their bail applications.
Sesay was granted bail alongside Bangura on September 15, 2022.
Kemoh Sesay — 2022
Former Transport and Aviation Minister and APC presidential aspirant, Kemoh Sesay was remanded at Pademba Road Correctional Centre on 5 May 2022 after appearing in court on a charge of cyberstalking and bullying. The charge concerned communications allegedly directed at President Bio through WhatsApp between March and April that year. He was granted bail and released on 9 May 2022.
Emmanuel Saidu Conteh — 2021
APC Member of Parliament Emmanuel Saidu Conteh was arrested on July 2, 2021, alongside three other people after customs officials reportedly detected firearms and ammunition in a vehicle.
The defendants were charged with conspiracy to commit a felony, illegal importation and unlawful possession of arms and ammunition.
The court initially denied bail and remanded the four accused at the Freetown Male Correctional Facility. They were released on bail on August 2, 2021, according to the US Department of State’s human rights report.
Alfred Paolo Conteh — 2020
Former Defence Minister under the APC government, Alfred Paolo Conteh was arrested in March 2020 after entering State House carrying a firearm. He was detained and faced several charges.
He was acquitted of treason but convicted of two firearms-related offences and sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment in July 2020.
Mohamed Kamarainba Mansaray — 2020
Mohamed Kamaraimba Mansaray, leader of the Alliance Democratic Party and a former presidential candidate, was detained in July 2020 over child abuse allegations.
The United States Department of State’s 2021 human rights report said Mansaray was held without bail until September 7, 2020, when he was released following public attention over his deteriorating health and requests for medical treatment.
His case was among the high-profile examples of prolonged pre-trial detention during the period according to US Department of State.
Sylvia Blyden — 2020
Former Social Welfare Minister, journalist and senior APC figure, Sylvia Olayinka Blyden was arrested on 1 May 2020 over social media posts critical of President Julius Maada Bio and the government. She was charged with offences including sedition and defamation and was remanded in correctional custody after her first court appearance on 22 May.
She was granted bail, rearrested in early June over alleged breach of bail conditions, and released again on 24 June 2020. The charges were later dropped following the repeal of criminal and seditious libel provisions.
23 APC members and supporters — 2019
In August 2019, a court sentenced 23 APC members and supporters to prison terms following a case arising from a confrontation involving supporters of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party in Hamilton, outside Freetown.
The defendants were accused of damaging property belonging to SLPP member Josephine Jackson. Their case attracted attention because it occurred ahead of a local election rerun.
The Sierra Leone Telegraph subsequently published the names of the 23 people, including Ibrahim Conteh, Dauda Kallon, Mohammed Alafia Sesay, Karamoh Kabba, Christopher Jones, Ishmael Koroma, Alhaji Kamara, Ishmael Conteh, Brima Marah, Mohammed Sesay, Abdullai Bundu, Momodu Sesay, Baba Kargbo, Mohammed Jalloh, Amara Kanneh, Moses Musa Koroma, Victor Dougherty, Osman Conteh, Musa Samura, Mohammed Kamara, Sorie Gabriel and Marie Pastor Kamara.
The report said the defendants had spent more than four weeks in custody before the High Court granted them bail.
Other opposition figures arrested or detained
Several other opposition figures have faced arrest or detention during the same period.
Femi Claudius-Cole: Leader of the Unity Party and chairperson of the Coalition of Progressive Political Parties, was arrested and detained in December 2021 in connection with comments concerning the government’s mid-term census.
Diana Finda Konomanyi: Former Minister and Senior APC politician, was also arrested in December 2021 but was later released without charge.
Ady Macauley: An opposition lawyer and politician, was arrested in October 2022 over alleged incitement following comments about freedom of assembly. He was subsequently released on bail.
Samura Kamara: The APC’s 2023 presidential candidate, was the subject of a Court of Appeal order for his arrest in December 2023 in connection with corruption charges relating to a government transaction from 2012.
Abu Bakarr “Boxx” Conteh: The All People’s Congress (APC) Organising Secretary for the North West Region, was arrested in Guinea on 23 March 2024 during a joint operation involving Guinean and Sierra Leonean security authorities. The Sierra Leone Government accused him of suspected involvement in providing support to those implicated in the failed coup attempt of November 2023 and alleged links to the illegal drug trade. Conteh was extradited to Sierra Leone on 12 April 2024 for questioning and was subsequently released on bail.