The United States government has imposed visa restrictions on officials it says are responsible for undermining democracy in Sierra Leone.

The move follows the disputed June 2023 General Election, which Western observers say lacked transparency.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday that the US will impose visa restrictions on officials who were allegedly involved in the manipulation and rigging of the electoral process, as well as those involved in alleged acts of intimidating voters, election observers and civil society activities.

“Under this policy, the United States will pursue visa restrictions for those believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining democracy in Sierra Leone, including through the manipulation or rigging of the electoral process; intimidation of voters, election observers, or civil society organisations through threats or acts of physical violence; or the abuse or violation of related human rights in Sierra Leone,” Mr Blinken said in a statement.

The Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone (ECSL) came under heavy criticism from Western observers who slammed the process for lacking transparency, even though some local and regional observers, including the African Union (AU) and Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), cleared it as free and fair.

Bio was declared winner of the presidential race with 56.17 percent of the vote in the first round, while his Sierra Leone People’s Party won an overwhelming majority in the House of Parliament.

The APC, whose candidate Dr Samura Kamara got 41.16 percent of votes, has refused to participate in governance, boycotting parliament and other lower-level governance structures. It demanded a re-run of the election.