Sierra Leone’s leading opposition party, the All People’s Congress (APC), has publicly condemned a January 30, 2025, front-page article by local newspaper Awoko as “false and misleading,” escalating tensions over media accountability and political representation.
The controversy centers on a headline claiming, “Over 1,500 Undocumented APC Supporters Face Deportation from the U.S. Amid Trump’s Immigration Crackdown,” which the APC asserts grossly misrepresents remarks made during a January 29 press briefing.
Party officials clarified that discussions about potential deportations of Sierra Leoneans in the U.S. were framed as a national concern, not limited to APC members.
In a sharply worded statement issued January 30, the APC accused Awoko of twisting comments by Deputy National Chairman Ibrahim Mansaray, who reportedly emphasized challenges facing “our Sierra Leonean people” under heightened U.S. immigration enforcement.
The party stressed that neither Mansaray nor other speakers referenced “APC supporters” in relation to deportation risks, calling the article a “malicious distortion” designed to politicize humanitarian issues.
“Deportations, if they occur, affect all Sierra Leoneans regardless of political affiliation. To suggest otherwise is irresponsible and inflammatory,” the APC declared.
The party further criticized the report for overshadowing critical topics addressed at the press conference, including transnational drug trafficking, economic reforms, and concerns over the government’s counter-terrorism legislation.
The APC has demanded an immediate retraction and formal correction from *Awoko*, urging the outlet to uphold journalistic integrity.
“This was not a mere error but a deliberate tactic to ridicule our party and divert public attention from pressing national issues,” the statement read.
