By: Fayia Jr. Moseray
“The era of taking state power through violence and intimidation is over in Sierra Leone,” declared the newly elected Publicity Secretary of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), Moses M. Mambu, during his appearance on Africa Young Voices (AYV) Television’s flagship program, “This Day,” on Tuesday, August 5, 2025.
Addressing the nation, Mr. Mambu emphasized that Sierra Leone has moved beyond the days when political power could be seized through coercion and unrest. He cited the peaceful and transparent outcome of the SLPP’s recently concluded 14th National Delegates’ Conference, held at the Bintumani International Conference Centre in Freetown, as clear evidence of the country’s democratic progress.
Fondly known as CSO Mambu, the newly elected spokesperson praised President Dr. Julius Maada Bio, leader of the SLPP, for his display of political tolerance, maturity, and openness throughout the conference. He described the event as a testament to President Bio’s democratic values, cultivated not only during his civilian political career but also as a disciplined young military officer.
“The SLPP and our president demonstrated strong democratic principles at the delegates’ conference held on July 30 and 31,” Mambu said. “A journalist friend of mine based in South Africa even sent me a congratulatory message, comparing President Bio’s unifying message to one made by the late Nelson Mandela to his ANC party delegates over three decades ago.”
Mambu strongly reiterated that no political party or group will be allowed to take state power through intimidation or violence. He called for all political actors to uphold democratic values and participate in governance through fair and credible means.
“State power must be attained through democratic processes,” he said. “That’s exactly what the SLPP has demonstrated.”
Describing the SLPP as the oldest and most rooted political party in Sierra Leone and the region, Mambu stated that the party remains committed to promoting democracy, both internally and nationally. He pledged to work tirelessly in his new role to ensure the SLPP retains power in the upcoming 2028 national elections.
He called on all SLPP members from grassroots supporters to national executives to remain united and focused. He encouraged those who lost internal elections during the conference to support the newly elected officials for the good of the party and the country.
“At the SLPP, we have no losers,” Mambu said. “Our party leader and president has called on everyone to join hands with the elected team. I echo that call let’s work together to secure victory in 2028.”
Mambu, widely respected as a vibrant civil rights activist, has now transitioned fully into partisan politics, taking on a five-year mandate as the SLPP’s Publicity Secretary. His appointment comes at a time when the political atmosphere is gradually heating up ahead of the 2028 presidential and parliamentary elections.
As Sierra Leone prepares for what promises to be a crucial election cycle, observers will be watching closely to see how the political climate evolves especially in a country where many citizens perceive an unspoken “ten-year cycle” of power rotation between the ruling SLPP and the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC).