The Vice-President of Sierra Leone Samuel Sam-Sumana has sought political asylum from the United States embassy after soldiers reportedly circled his residence.
Mr. Sam-Sumana, who confirmed the news to the BBC, fled with his wife to the embassy, although it is yet to be determined whether the pair are inside.
[contextly_sidebar id=”UrlO4m8HclQxUU2aDBJiR3cuwojcPVSI”]The developments come a week after Sam-Sumana was expelled from the ruling party, the All People’s Congress and hust a fortnight after he put himself in quarantine following the death of one of his bodyguards from the Ebola virus.
The decision to expel the Vice President was made after a meeting of the party’s National Advisory Council, according to the national broadcaster, the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation.
Sam-Sumana was accused of “orchestrating political violence” and trying to form a new party in his home district of Kono.
He was also accused of falsifying his academic credentials.
He has since rejected the claims, describing them as “baseless fabrications and lies” – and rejected calls for his resignation.
Police and army sources confirmed to the BBC that troops were sent to the vice-president’s residence on Saturday morning.
They said the troops were dispatched to withdraw Mr Sam-Sumana’s security detail, but would not say whose orders they were acting on.
Sam-Sumana told the AP news agency by phone that he didn’t “feel safe this morning as vice-president” and revealed that he had spoken to US Ambassador John Hoover and was waiting for a response.
US embassy spokeswoman Hollyn Green said embassy officials, including Mr Hoover, had “seen the news” but could not provide any reaction.
“There is no comment at the moment and there is no action on our part,” Ms Green told AP.
Under Sierra Leone’s constitution the Vice-President cannot be sacked.
By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana