By Umaru Fofana
The presidential candidate of the opposition APC party, Dr Samura Kamara has responded to a question on whether he plans to run for president for the third time. In an exclusive interview with Politico at his IMATT residence in Freetown, he spoke about whether or not he was interested to run again in 2028. Read the full interview, which begins with his reaction to the recent peace agreement that ended his party’s boycott of governance.
Exclusive Interview with APC presidential candidate, Dr Samura Kamara
Like all other elections in Sierra Leone since the restoration of democracy in 1996, the results of the polls of 24 June 2023 were contested. Even the one in 2002, when incumbent president Ahmad Tejan Kabbah won by the most decisive victory in the country’s democratic history with more than 70% of the votes, the losing candidate Ernest Bai Koroma faulted the result.
So it was again with the June polls which left the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) crying foul. They carried out their threat of boycotting governance on all levels and refused to take up their seats in parliament and councils.
It caused angst and set off a cloud of uncertainty over the country. This prompted the Peace and National Cohesion Commission to facilitate a National Dialogue that was presided over by ECOWAS, the African Union and the Commonwealth.
An agreement followed. Among other things it states that the APC will take up their seats, a tripartite committee will be set up to review the country’s electoral laws and prisoners and those standing trial for election-related violence will be freed.
Umaru Fofana caught up with the Dr Samura Kamara of the main opposition APC party.
Politico: Dr Samura Kamara, you just ended the dialogue with the Government, what is your reaction to the outcome?
Dr Samura Kamara: I think the dialogue is held for a historical nature, so was the agreement as the outcome of the dialogue. These were two historic moments in the political life of Sierra Leone. So that is why I appreciate the effort of the mediators and also the willingness of the two parties to actually engage one another on a dialogue like this.
Politico: So why is it that you are happy with the outcome?
Dr Samura Kamara: Simply because if you recall, after the 2023 elections we had a serious stalemate. Nothing is happening in the country. It is now close to four months. The economy is not moving, the political atmosphere is becoming more and more tense, interpersonal rivalry, all of these are heightening. Political tension is heightening. The two parties are at cross-purposes. We the APC believe that we won the elections, unless and until the disaggregated data is published and concludes otherwise. On the other side we have the SLPP government who believe they won the elections based on the results as announced by the Chief Electoral Commissioner, Mohamed Konneh. Therefore all they have to do now is to consolidate their power. So, these are two extreme positions and it was the intension of the dialogue to make sure we start a road map that will more strategically narrow the interpersonal differences, the built-in enmity between leadership of the two parties which cascade into membership of the two parties.
Politico: What would you say changed that made you reach an agreement and allow your elected Members of Parliament and Councillors to take up their seats. What exactly did the Government give in that made you accede to that?
Dr Samura Kamara: It was not a winner or a loser type of event. What was good about it was the approach taken by the mediators – the former Vice President of The Gambia and a Retired Judge from Kenya. At the very outset they did indicate to us that they had no legal mandate to adjudicate on whether it was a run-off or who won or who lost the elections. So it was not their mandate to tell us about disaggregated data, whether it should be produced or not, or what should happen to the Chief Electoral Commissioner’s failure for him to produce the disaggregated data. What they wanted was to start a roadmap that begins with peace among the party leadership; and honestly I think that was the critical issue in Sierra Leonean politics where a Samura supporter is castigated or harassed by an SLPP supporter, where Samura cannot even talk to SLPP Leader, they say “he has sold out”. Similarly, an SLPP supporter or Leader cannot talk to an APC Leader/supporter. I think if we continue this type of divide Sierra Leone will never go forward. So the historical nature of the dialogue was to find a way of narrowing this gap and try to resolve it to say we are all one. Let us concentrate more on development issues that change the livelihoods of Sierra Leoneans than issues that just tender on our political gains. As I always say, in Sierra Leone today, unless we refine our politics – call it political laundry – unless we change our politics it will be very difficult for us to move forward.
Politico: Do you understand why some of your party supporters, some of your supporters, have been critical of the agreement and have even been scolding you, excoriating you on social media? Do you understand that?
Politico: I do understand that. I don’t blame them simply because we never had the opportunity to explain what the dialogue agreement means and what the dialogue itself meant to them. But now, having been explaining they’re beginning to understand that this dialogue is a win-win and it is not a winner takes all or loser loses all. It’s a win-win for both parties. It’s also a win-win for the people of Sierra Leone. If we only implement what is in the agreement, I think it will be beneficial to all of us. The most important one being the dialogue that continues within the context of an investigation on how the 2023 elections resulted in terms of the way Mr Konneh announced his numbers. I think this is as important as it gives an opportunity for both parties and the international community to actually examine what happened. And by so doing it will correct the electoral defect in our electoral processes.
Politico: You say that you wanted the disaggregated result to be published, you wanted the electoral commissioner to resign, among other things. You wanted the whole elections process to be audited. None of that was accepted and yet you say it’s a win-win.
Dr Samura Kamara: Yes, there is still room – if you look at the agreement there is still room – for the APC to continue what it has to do, what it wants to do. But I believe that if we follow the agreement to it letter, it will bring peace within Sierra Leone, it will improve interpersonal political relationships in Sierra Leone. And that is what the country needs today – where we are all brothers and sisters and we move together. This agreement calls for a six-month examination of the results of the election process and this is where we should all come out now with all our issues and the SLPP will also come out with its issues. And then we will have an agreement on what needs to be done.
Politico: Do you believe that there will be no brinkmanship – both parties will respect what they signed on that piece of paper? Or do you foresee the possibility of a logjam whereby your party may decide to do otherwise because certain things have not been done?
Politico: I think that question should be asked more to the ruling party which we are describing as an “illegitimate government”. Thy should actually have the bravery and the boldness to make sure that this agreement works which also leads to easing the political tension among our people. The arrests must stop, intimidation must stop, all those that were politically arrested and detained should be released. By doing so you are bringing confidence into the country. And there is no investor that could come to a country that has serious political uncertainties. That is why I think the onus is on the government to really come out and honor this agreement and then we move forward. Six months is a very short period, by the time you realize it, it passes by. And that is why we have to work together with our international development partners to form this committee and for it to start working.
Politico: With the benefit of hindsight should you have asked your elected officials to indefinitely boycott governance or should it have just been for a month to symbolically state your case?
Dr Samura Kamara: It should have been difficult at that material time because of the anger we had when we described the elections as “stolen”. The issue of the Parliamentarians has come in as…we take it as part of the issues that must be considered going forward. It doesn’t mean because the MPs are back in Parliament that would be the end of story, no. That’s why we have the committee that will serve for six months. We are also advised by our friends, well-meaning Sierra Leoneans, the donor community, development partners that it is better if Parliamentarians all come together in Parliament and from there they start discussing their differences. Because this type of engagement legitimizes the differences and solutions between the two parties. People listen more to parliament. I am sure because they are there doesn’t mean the APC will accept just everything lock stock and barrel. This is just one issue. And again you don’t want any split among them within the context of the solidarity with the APC. Once that happens outside an agreement, if we didn’t have this dialogue, it would have been more disastrous to the party. It is better for the party and the parliamentarians to have an understanding and an agreement. And that is what this dialogue has done.
Politico: And on a personal note, is this the end of your presidential ambition – Dr Samura Kamara?
Dr Samura Kamara: To tell you the truth, my contribution to Sierra Leone has never been anchored on me being the President. I have done so much for Sierra Leone, I’ve held so many senior positions and I have contributed quite a lot. If it happens that I’m President, it’s by divine intervention. So that’s why I don’t really sit and begin to do all odd things just because I want power – no! And that’s why I want to advise our political leadership in Sierra Leone. Political leadership has to put the people first – not yourself first. This intraparty rivalry will not help – and I think we have that in both parties. Once you have that it’s a serious fundamental distraction into what it takes to develop Sierra Leone and move Sierra Leone forward.
Politico:…Having tried twice and not succeeded, you don’t think it’s time to call it off, or do you intend to run again in 2028?
Dr Samura Kamara: It doesn’t matter. As I said, it is a divine intervention. I will leave it up to God. I am not that type of person who is so desperate. All I know is that if it is the will of God that I continue to lead this party to at least what I want the party to be – to contribute to be a strong agent of changing the lives of people in Sierra Leone, so be it.
Politico: Thank you very much sir
Dr Samura Kamara: You’re welcome.
Transcribed By Chernor Alimamy Kamara
Copyright © 2023 Politico (27/10/23)
