Bio Anticipates Coup Plot Blames US Government
By: Christian Conteh
Sierra Leone’s embattled President Julius Maada Bio has anticipated a coup plot against his democratically elected government and blames the United States Government of laying a fertile foundation for this.
President Bio who is no stranger to the treacherous realm of coup plots, firmly believes that the U.S. has laid the foundation for potential chaos and instability.
His claims resounded during a candid question and answer session held at the American University in Washington D.C., on the fringes of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
Blaming the American government for meddling in Sierra Leone’s internal politics, Bio recalled a critical juncture in the electoral process.
“At the height of calling the results, this was when the problem started. They had done all their calculations, collations, and all the processes. I was now requested to stop them from calling the results by the United States, so I don’t know who is accusing who of interference. I declined, and I said I will never call the institution,” Bio recalled.
But Bio’s concern extends beyond Sierra Leone’s borders, as he emphasized the volatile nature of the West African region.
“Consider the contest in West Africa, a very volatile region,” he urged.
“We are threatened by jihadists in the whole of the Sahel. From the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea, we have military governments, with a few of us surviving as democratically elected governments. When the United States casts doubt on an election that was considered the most peaceful, free, and fair, you are calling for a coup,” he said.
In response Sarah Van Horne Public Affairs Officer of the US Embassy says they do not comment on private diplomatic conversations
The backdrop to this contentious dialogue is the aftermath of Sierra Leone’s June 2023 elections, which raised eyebrows both domestically and internationally.
The U.S., along with other international and local observers, expressed concerns over the credibility of the results, citing anomalies in the tabulation process.
In response, the U.S. has taken the drastic measure of imposing visa restrictions on individuals they deem to have undermined the country’s democratic process.
In this diplomatic standoff, President Bio’s claims and concerns resonate beyond borders, painting a complex picture of the fragile balance between democracy, international scrutiny and the quest for stability in a tumultuous region.
