By Mackie M. Jalloh
In a stirring appeal addressed to the Elders Council of Sierra Leone’s All People’s Congress (APC), Hon. Ambassador Alimamy Philip Koroma has urged senior members to mediate an escalating internal conflict that has thrown the party into disarray. The letter, penned on August 2, 2024, lays out his concerns over divisions among the APC national executive and the leadership of Dr. Samura Mathew Wilson Kamara, the party’s 2023 presidential candidate. Hon Amb Koroma’s letter reflects both frustration and alarm, highlighting how these clashes have the proclivities of derailing the party’s unity and reputation.
The APC has been in a state of turmoil following the contested 2023 presidential election, in which the APC disputed the results announced by the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone (ECSL). On June 24, 2023, the APC leadership of Dr Samura Kamara and the party’s broader membership rejected the ECSL’s results and demanded the publication of disaggregated voting data. This unified stance led to negotiations with the ruling government, culminating in an October agreement for national unity. Under this agreement, a Tripartite Committee was established to manage collaborative efforts and address electoral grievances.
While this unity initially held, Hon Amb Koroma’s letter points to cracks that began to appear toward the end of the Tripartite Committee’s tenure. In June 2024, as the committee neared completion of its mandate, signs of discord became evident, according to Hon Amb Koroma, as differences in opinion between Dr Samura Kamara and APC national executive grew more pronounced. As these tensions escalated, the Tripartite Committee’s report was eventually submitted to President Julius Maada Bio, but any hopes of reconciliation within the APC quickly disintegrated.
Since then, the conflict has spilled into public view, with supporters from both factions taking to social media to air grievances. Allegations and counter-allegations have tarnished the party’s image, both locally and abroad. What was once a political dispute over election results has now morphed into a clash of personalities and priorities, with Dr Samura Kamara and the executive leadership each mobilizing their respective bases. Social media platforms have become battlegrounds for these disputes, further intensifying divisions within the party and eroding its standing among the public.
In his letter,Hon Amb Koroma calls on the Elders Council to urgently intervene in what he describes as a “self-destructive” situation. He invokes Article 25(e) of the APC’s 2022 constitution, which empowers the Elders Council to mediate in such crises. Hon Amb Koroma stresses that the Elders Council’s guidance is crucial in reining in both sides and restoring the party’s sense of direction and purpose. He makes a passionate plea for the Council’s involvement, emphasizing that the current internal discord not only endangers the party’s future but also risks eroding public trust in the APC as a credible opposition force.
Hon Koroma’s appeal to the Elders Council also underscores the role of unity within the APC. He calls on party leaders to recall the cooperative spirit that initially drove them to contest the 2023 election results and to channel that unity into addressing grievances within the party itself. He suggests that addressing internal conflicts is as vital to the APC’s success as any electoral battle, stressing that unchecked infighting can weaken the party’s core principles and alienate supporters.
Furthermore, Hon Amb Koroma’s letter was copied to several high-ranking APC figures, including the current chairman, the Secretary-General, former leader and chairman, former Ernest Bai Koroma, and Dr. Samura Kamara himself. This decision underscores the gravity of the situation and signals a call for broad-based action to address the party’s internal fractures.
As the APC grapples with this internal struggle, observers are closely watching how the Elders Council will respond. The Elders’ intervention is likely to set a precedent for how the party handles future conflicts and will play a critical role in shaping the APC’s political trajectory ahead of the next electoral cycle. Hon. Amb Koroma’s appeal serves as a reminder that the party’s strength lies not only in its political positions but also in its capacity for self-reflection and unity.
