By Alpha Amadu Jalloh
Good morning, Mr. President, I trust that you’re feeling a bit jet-lagged from your recent travels, yet word has it that you’re preparing to fly off again, this time to Addis Ababa for another African Union session. An institution known as the “toothless bulldog,” the AU holds grand ambitions yet depends on financial aid from external powers like the United Nations, World Bank, IMF, and countries such as China, the United States, and members of the European Union. Given the nature of this organization and the limited tangible returns for Sierra Leone, I’m left wondering why you feel the need to attend these gatherings that often turn into little more than fruitless discussions.
The burden of these trips falls heavily on our people. Sierra Leone’s resources, stretched thin as they are, pay for a trip that yields little benefit. It’s more like a meeting of leaders united by their collective failures, shaking hands and delivering speeches with no practical outcomes to improve the lives of those back home. Meanwhile, issues of real urgency, like the plight of our sisters and brothers trapped in Lebanon, are left unattended. They are stranded, vulnerable, and in immediate need of assistance. And yet, here we are, with funds allocated to fruitless meetings abroad instead of being directed toward the rescue and support of our citizens in a crisis.
“Or Man Yusef Na Fo Memba Sae Na Wi Ol Get Mama Salone.” Mr. President, this is a plea to your humanity. Our relatives, caught up in Lebanon amidst rising regional tensions, face dangers that are worsening by the day. Rather than stretching Sierra Leone’s resources across endless travel engagements, I urge you to consider the lives of our family members abroad who need urgent repatriation.
The recent instability in the Middle East, sparked by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, continues to escalate. Amidst the chaos, Lebanon, where so many of our relatives reside as domestic workers, has become a tinderbox. Mr. President, your responsibility to protect the welfare of all Sierra Leoneans extends beyond our borders. It is time to prioritize the immediate rescue and safe return of our people from Lebanon rather than pouring time, money, and effort into discussions that yield no actionable outcomes.
The ongoing cycle of diplomatic trips, announcements, and conferences abroad may be tempting, perhaps even necessary on occasion, but the time has come to shift focus to the welfare of our people. The hope we had in your leadership is waning as we witness a government that appears more invested in maintaining international appearances than in addressing crises that directly impact Sierra Leoneans’ daily lives.
Our frustration grows as we watch a government that seems distant from the urgent needs of its people. For instance, many of us have been asking questions about Dr. Kandeh Yumkella. Once hailed as a reformist with genuine intentions, Dr. Yumkella has left many of us disillusioned. Rumours suggest he’s being positioned as a potential successor for you, but he is not trusted by the people who once supported him. His ambition is not grounded in the service of Sierra Leoneans but seems to oscillate between arrogance and greed, making it difficult to believe he would lead with the people’s best interests at heart.
Mr. President, it would do well to recall that trust cannot be forced or feigned. Dr. Yumkella’s former supporters have since realized that he may not represent the values of humility, integrity, and empathy that they had once envisioned. His ambitions appear self-serving, and his recent actions reveal a detachment from the concerns of Sierra Leoneans who look to their leaders to exemplify a commitment to collective progress.
You might remember, Mr. President, a phone call in London in 2015. We were set to meet at Elephant and Castle on a Thursday, yet circumstances prevented me from attending. It was not because of a lack of interest, but out of caution. Your then “handbag man,” known to us as the London Jet, seemed intent on using the meeting to capture photos that could later be manipulated on social media to derail the KKY Movement’s launch. On that day, you were en route to Bradford University, and while the meeting did not take place, the caution that stopped me then still resonates today.
It is important, Mr. President, to talk frankly about these matters, particularly as we approach the 2028 elections. Sierra Leone has seen enough political maneuvering, and the people deserve a transparent democratic process, free from manipulation or favoritism. If Dr. Yumkella is indeed being positioned as your successor, then you must be aware of the concerns Sierra Leoneans have regarding his intentions and his qualifications.
His actions and words have revealed a level of entitlement that does not serve our country well. Sierra Leoneans are exhausted from dealing with leaders who serve themselves first and the people second. Our country has endured enough hardship under leaders who prioritize their image over the people’s welfare. The last thing we need is a successor who embodies a mixture of arrogance and greed.
There is still time, Mr. President, to show the people of Sierra Leone that you understand the frustrations, hopes, and dreams that they hold. Instead of investing in public relations campaigns or superficial appointments, redirect those resources and efforts toward building sustainable development, improving infrastructure, and ensuring that Sierra Leoneans, both at home and abroad, are cared for and protected.
As you attend the African Union session in Addis Ababa, consider this: what lasting benefit will this trip bring to our people? If the answer is “none,” then perhaps it’s time to rethink this approach. True leadership involves making hard decisions, focusing on what matters most, and refusing to be distracted by ceremonial displays that lack real substance. It is about doing what’s right, even if it means sacrificing personal accolades for the common good.
Mr. President, the people of Sierra Leone are watching closely. We urge you to step up, to recognize the trust that has been placed in you, and to focus on what truly matters. We are asking for real leadership—leadership that prioritizes the welfare of all Sierra Leoneans and upholds the principles of humility, honesty, and unwavering commitment to progress.
Our nation’s future rests not in grand speeches or high-profile meetings but in the careful, thoughtful choices made by those entrusted with its leadership.
