Former APC Leader Warns Political Tensions Drive Sierra Leone Youth Frustration

Former APC Leader Warns Political Tensions Drive Sierra Leone Youth Frustration

Mohamed “Pope” Kamara, former Deputy Publicity Secretary of the All People’s Congress (APC), warned that political provocation and mistreatment of party supporters could have pushed Sierra Leone into violent conflict if senior leaders had not intervened.

Speaking on AYV’s Front Page, Kamara discussed youth disillusionment, systemic harassment, and security force actions.

“If it were left solely to the young people in this country, by now, perhaps there would have been a war,” Kamara stated, noting that young opposition members feel increasingly pushed to their limits by political marginalization.

He also cited aggressive security deployments in strongholds like Makeni and Tombo as major drivers of public anger, criticizing media portrayals surrounding these events.

“Sometimes when you go to the media, you see the way and manner they’ll take police there and how they have killed our people in Makeni [and] Tombo,” he said, warning that such actions heighten national tension.

He credited APC elders with maintaining restraint following the contested 2023 elections.

“If it had not been for the movement of some of these people, trust me, it would have been something else,” he said, urging transparent resolution of opposition grievances.

His comments reflect broader political tensions in Sierra Leone marked by post-election disputes and leadership challenges within the APC.

While framed as a warning against ignoring political grievances, allegations regarding state security conduct in Makeni and Tombo remain subject to independent verification.