Abdul Y. Turay and US Envoy flanked by SLPP Karene District executive members
The United States Ambassador David Bryant Hunt has on Thursday May 15th 2025, engaged executive members of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) in Karene district in Kamakwie Town.
Responding to concerns raised about the implementation of recommendations adopted by members of the Tripartite Committee, Ambassador Hunt said government message has been clear on it. He said the Minister of Information and Civic Education is trying very hard to be as clear as he can about what the Tripartite achievements are and not. He said “From the United States side, we are trying to support those efforts,” adding that they are working with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to help amplify those messages.
On the Electoral Justice cry, the US diplomat said it is a bit hard for them.
“I will be very honest. One does not achieve electoral justice by going to the media or the international community to negotiate with the government. What is Electoral Justice is by going to Court and the APC party decided not to go to court, adding that it is their right if they chose not to go to court.
“The 2023 elections were problematic like 2018, 2012 and 2007. Let us be honest about that. There is no way you deal with that without going to Court,” he stressed. He pointed out that the APC decided not to go to court and they instead preferred to negotiate with the government. The negotiation he said was not about the 2023 elections results but how to resolve the problems going forward.
“All the eighty-four (84) recommendations from the Tripartite Committee report is about what happened from 2028 onwards not the 2023, 2018, 2012 and 2007. It is about how we fix the problems so that after 2028 the parties will say we have fair elections, we respect the process, institution and results announced by the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) and we are prepared to move on,” he told the audience.
He said whatever the outcome is whether it is the APC or SLPP it should never become a flash point for violence or confrontation. He emphasized that the system should be strong enough to say yes, we lost and we have another chance in five years and this is all what the Tripartite Committee is about not about the past elections.
“It is not that we are adjudicating the results ECSL came up with in 2023. Whether we like it or not. The USA government has many problems with the outcome of the elections results. It is what it is. You have a law and process that must be followed,” he stressed, adding that they will keep working to get the message out.
He said he always engaged executives of the APC and SLPP on these issues any district he goes, adding that they will continue to push for that.
He noted that it is not the entire members of the APC that is crying about electoral justice, noting that it is only few people.
He pointed out that there are many leaders in the APC who are trying very hard in their own rights to educate the members about the work of the Tripartite Committee. He said “I don’t want to create the impression that the entire members of the APC is the problem.”
On Karene district, he emphasized that more needs to be done in the area of infrastructure.
Welcoming the USA Ambassador, SLPP Chairman for Karene district, Abdul Yokie Turay lauded him for visiting the district and engaging his executive. He said they strongly support the work of their leader as he believes in peace and development.
He said President Bio is determined to implement his manifesto promises stated in the five big game changer. He assured the USA Envoy of their continued commitment to be law abiding and strongly support President Bio’s dream of changing the narrative in the country.
Meanwhile, the USA Envoy was unable to meet with executive members of the APC in Karene district. After the meeting with the SLPP District executive the diplomat returned to Makeni to pass the night there with the hope that he will return to Kamakwie the following day Friday to engage APC district executive members.
“We were told by the ONS man on the ground that on his way to Makeni, his vehicle encountered some problem. Another vehicle had to be called from Freetown to take the US Envoy there and he decided to continue to Freet
own,” APC District Chairman, Adikalie Sesay said.
APC executive members had already assembled at the community centre to receive the US diplomat only to be told by the ONS representative in Kamakwie that he has gone to Freetown and will reschedule another meeting with them.
