By Lawrence Williams
President Julius Maada Bio has accused the United States government of attempting to provoke a constitutional crisis in Sierra Leone following the conduct and outcome of the June 24 presidential and parliamentary elections. He made these claims during a public lecture at the American University in Washington.
“The problem started at the height of calling the result,” he said, adding that, “I was now requested to stop them [ECSL] from calling the results by the United States”.
President Bio’s accusations come in response to concerns raised by the U.S. about transparency in the electoral commission’s results tabulation process and recent visa restrictions imposed on individuals implicated in election manipulation and rigging.
He described these actions as an attempt to incite a coup in Sierra Leone and create further instability in a region already grappling with military takeovers.
He said: “When the United States cast doubt on the credibility of an election that was considered to be the most peaceful, you’re calling for a coup.” According to him, the United States wanted a rerun of the presidential election.
President Bio did not name any U.S. official involved in this saga, and the U.S. embassy in Sierra Leone has declined to comment on the matter, leaving room for rampant speculations.
