By Mohamed Kamara
“The current trends in Sierra Leone do not indicate preparedness for peace and national cohesion. Instead, what precedes conventions and elections reflects violations of trust, escalating drug abuse, frequent bank robberies, and a frustrated public with limited prospects,” says James Borbor Koroma, a Sierra Leonean political analyst based in Maryland, USA.
Koroma was commenting on the recently held All People’s Congress (APC) meeting in Atouga, which he said was expected to promote peace following the Unity Agreement. “The expectation of the average Sierra Leonean was for the old to be buried and a new chapter to emerge,” he stated, noting that controversial speeches, like that of Lansana Dumbuya, would have drawn less attention if it had been closer to election season.
The analyst criticised what he described as irrational political behaviour. He highlighted comments by Sylvia Blyden, who claimed that First Lady Fatima Bio endorsed her candidacy to contest as APC flagbearer. “Fatima Bio is a member of the SLPP and has no influence in the APC, let alone over party delegates,” Koroma said. “Such claims reflect ego and unnecessary political rivalry rather than constructive discourse.”
Koroma also raised concerns over the rising drug menace, describing it as a growing threat to both government and citizens. He warned that the lifting of the US visa restrictions, while celebrated, does not reflect the deeper challenges the country faces.
“The worst issue is corruption, which has spread from the civil service and political spheres into the banking sector,” Koroma said. He referenced frequent bank robberies and judicial proceedings that have shaken public trust in financial institutions. “Cases like the United Bank for Africa (UBA) former executive being sentenced to decades in prison, along with other scandals in the banking sector, raise questions about the safety and integrity of our banks.”
Koroma concluded that Sierra Leone is “far from meaningful change” and that the country continues to undermine its own development daily.
