Former Sierra Leone MP Candidate Details Torture and Escape to Australia

Canberra - In a detailed and chilling account  Ibrahim Sankoh, a former parliamentary candidate for Sierra Leone’s main opposition party, has chronicled a harrowing journey of political persecution, torture and narrow escapes from the administration of President Julius Maada Bio.

Sankoh, who represented the All People’s Congress (APC) in Freetown’s Constituency 121, is formally seeking asylum in Australia.

He told the Kwedu News that he has been the target of a sustained campaign by the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) and state security forces, which he describes as a brutal dictatorship.

"I am distressed to inform the Department of Home Affairs about my situation," Sankoh stated in his asylum plea.

"My life has been under attack twice by the Maada Bio-led government, the Sierra Leone People’s Party and their supporters who are in governance, including the Sierra Leone police," he said.

A Pattern of Arbitrary Detention and Torture

The academic and politician, who holds a Master’s degree from IPAM University of Sierra Leone, traces the escalation of his persecution to August 9, 2022.

He alleges that while staging a community campaign to present his manifesto, police invaded the scene and arrested him along with five team members.

Sankoh claims they were held for five weeks and falsely accused of mobilizing the countrywide demonstrations of August 10, 2022, protests driven by public frustration over the soaring cost of living that resulted in dozens of deaths.

"We were tortured for weeks to force us to accept that we were preparing for the said demonstration," Sankoh said, adding that "I was in the cell with my team, with no access to my family and friends and my properties were stolen; phone, watch, money and documents."

Following his release under strict conditions, Sankoh says his 2023 election campaign was conducted undercover due to constant threats.

He claims the June 2023 general election was systematically rigged, with his own ballot papers left uncounted to favor the incumbent’s party.

The November Coup and Personal Vendettas

The situation reached a breaking point following the failed coup attempt on November 26, 2023.

Sankoh was invited by police for questioning on December 12, an invitation he refused out of fear for his life.

"I refused to honor the invitation because a friend of mine has already been arrested and taken to prison and has never returned," he said.

"My team manager, Alusine Koroma, was arrested and detained for two months with no statement of why his arrest was made," he added.

Sankoh further alleges that the pursuit of him has become personal, claiming one of the officers seeking his arrest is the brother of an officer who died during the 2022 protests.

He says he has received numerous text and audio messages from followers warning him that the police are desperately searching for his location.

A Plea for Democratic Protection

Before fleeing to Australia, Sankoh says he went into hiding in Lungi town after being accused of using one of his Sport Utility Vehicles to facilitate the coup, an allegation he vehemently denies.

He describes the current judicial climate in Sierra Leone as a death sentence for political dissidents.

"Nobody could protect me, and my life was at risk since they all listened to orders from above," Sankoh stated.

"Eighty percent of people get prosecuted for allegations just like mine; no one has ever come back alive from jail because of the serious torture and secret killings," he said.

Sankoh concluded the deposition by expressing profound concern for his family remaining in Freetown, including his fiancé, Marion Tholley and his fragile parents, who he says are facing ongoing threats.

"I believe I will be safe in Australia because they value the rule of law and embrace democracy," he said.