By: Thaimu Bai Sesay
The Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion (ICPNC) has on Tuesday 5th December 2023 at the government press briefing assured all political parties that the ongoing investigation on the attempted coup would not target any political party and warned the general public not to associate the violent attack on any political party.
Representing the commission at the press briefing, Hawa Sallay Samai, Executive Secretary for the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion started off by reiterating the commissions stance on the attempted coup that they as a peace commission in the strongest term condemned the attempted coup, saying Sierra Leone is amongst the most peaceful countries in the West Africa and that they always work on improving that.
Acknowledging the bravery demonstrated in addressing the deadly incident, Madam Samai joined the President to commend the people of Sierra Leone for distancing themselves from the recent violent attack identified as a failed attempted coup. She went on commending the Ministry of Information and Civic Education for its continuous update on the security status of the country during those trying times. She also commended the security forces for their huge sacrifice as she prayed for those that lost their precious lives in protecting the peace and democracy of the country.
At the press briefing Madam Samai specially applauded Civil Society Organizations for putting out a unified message that was free from political sentiments. Though the investigation is yet to prove that but said that showed that the attack had no political related concerns but was just staged by people with different mindsets and intentions.
ICPNC Executive Secretary strongly advised members of the general public not to associate or relate the violent attack or attempted coup to any political party or anything that has to do with politics, and went on encouraging them to report any escaped prisoner from the Pademba Road prison and any other sensitive information in relation to the attack to the relevant authorities.
On the mediated dialogue Madam Samai informed that the resolutions on the dialogue were gradually being implemented by both parties, as she said the All People’s Congress Members of Parliament had ended their boycott, now attending the Sixth Parliament. She assured that all the resolutions agreed on the media dialogue would be fully implemented.
The Executive Secretary of ICPNC said there might be the involvement of some political party individuals but clarified that such would not amount for any political party to be implicated, saying it is the ongoing investigation that would have to prove whatever may be the case. As Madam Samai reaffirmed that all political parties had condemned the attack, she assured them that the investigation would not target any political party but would be carried out according to law and order.
