The credibility of Freetown’s former Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyer has been called to question over a controversial video she made in the aftermath of a political violence which has turned out to be misleading.
Mrs Aki-Sawyer, who is running for her second term as mayor of the Sierra Leonean capital on the ticket of the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC), alleged in a live Facebook broadcast that several supporters of the party were killed when police responded to an unauthorized protest at the party’s office. The footage showed what looked like a bloody scene within and around the vicinity of the imposing compound that serves as the party’s headquarters on Old Railway Line.
There were reports of a shootout. APC supporters say three of their colleagues were killed after been shot at by police.
But the Sierra Leone Police says none of its men fired a shot.
Aki-Sawyer’s live video, done moments after the incident, steered up emotions when she showed what she claimed was a “stream of blood”.
“It’s heartbreaking, this is blood, this is the blood of APC supporters… all over the streets,” she cried out in the video.
The Police called her out for spreading false information, while a civil society organization demanded for her to stepdown from the mayoral race, calling her action “dishonorable.”
“The SLP wants the public to know that not a single shot was released by the security forces – a claim endorsed by one election observer,” said a police statement shared with the media.
“We are therefore disappointed that the former Mayor was spreading false and malicious information to members of the public,” it added.
According to the police, a red colored substance was poured on the ground to make it look like human blood.
Mrs Aki-Sawyer later deleted the video from her page. She did a follow-up version in which she said she had been informed that tear gas residue had caused the excess red color. But she claimed that three people had died, and she stopped short of apologizing for the misleading video.
A day after the incident, new footages of the controversial video have emerged, which critics, including the Civil Rights Coalition, a civil society organization, claimed was a rehearsal session.
“This clear incitement, manipulation and divisive speech is enough to question her suitability for the dignified office of the Mayor of our city,” said the Civil Rights Coalition, which accused her of preplanning the act.
“Subsequent videos have since shown that the former Mayor calculated, planned and executed a scheme that could have undermined the peace, stability and unity of our beloved city,” it added.
The group also accused her of fanning ethnic division.
In her now deleted video, Aki-Sawyer is heard making references suggesting that Freetown was targeted purposely as an opposition stranglehold.
“…how can there be an election, when this is what our supporters face. And this is in Freetown. In the capital city. This isn’t Bo. This isn’t Kenema, and this isn’t in Kailahun. This isn’t the Southeast…And this is real. And so don’t tell me about peace,” she said.
The incident illustrates the role misinformation and disinformation are playing in shaping the June 24 elections, which has already generated widespread concerns about the potential for violence.
Western diplomatic representatives, including the US, UK and the European Union Delegation, issued a joint statement calling for calm and urging Sierra Leoneans “to reject the language of division and hate.” They also urged everyone with grievances to seek redress through the courts.
A major source of contention though is the APC’s claim that the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone (ECSL) was refusing to provide a level playing field for elections.
President Julius Maada Bio, in a national address on Tuesday night, assured the opposition of his government’s commitment to ensuring free, fair and democratic elections.
Apparently, the APC didn’t take him at his word.
About two weeks to the polls, the party gave the ECSL a 72-hour ultimatum to meet several key demands, failure of which it called on the head of the Commission and his entire top management to resign.
After the ultimatum elapsed, the APC wrote a letter to the police notifying it of its intention to stage a peaceful protest at the NEC offices.
But the Sierra Leone Police said the APC ignored two separate invitations for a meeting to discuss their request.
While reiterating that the head of the police reserved the right as per law to authorize any protest with consideration of public safety, the police insisted that their request for a meeting was meant to plan for a peaceful procession.
The police accused the APC of herboring armed ex-combatants within its offices, whom it blames for the gunshots during the riot.
“Five shots were released from the headquarters of the APC Party office: two from pistol and three from AK 47 rifle,” the statement said.
They also disclosed at a press conference that 66 people were arrested for participating in the unauthorized protests. They also displayed empty shells of the bullets they allegedly found at the scene.
