The Incarceration of Sekou Damate Konneh-Lessons to learn
Jun 6, 2009 Varfley A. Dolleh

Introduction:

There is a popular universal parable which says, “That a house divided by it self, center can never hold, which normally lead to the fall of the building”. Mindful of same, we are keen to surmise that such is the case with the ongoing unanticipated confinement of the former Leader of the Liberia United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD), “Mr. Sekou Damate Konneh”, and the callous mal-handling of his alienated wife “Ms. Asia Konneh” by the Guinean Junta. The rise and fall of the estranged couple following their heroic liberation of the sub-region, especially, Guinea and Liberia remains a misery. Despite the divisiveness and other political deficits they deserve better by the sub-regional leaders.

Political Deciphering of the Konnehs:

Mr. and Mrs. Konneh were both obscure politically in Liberia. Apart, they didn’t encompass any sphere of influence from the Mandingo Community, nor were they intellectually potent. Despite these realistic disadvantages, they are from noble families, blessed with dignified and positive upbringings up to their sudden elevation to higher height, prompted by the sudden escalation of the Guinean crisis with Mr. Charles Taylor poised to have taken over Guinea.

Unlike Ms. Ashia Konneh, Mr. Sekou Damate Konneh was an enterprising business man selling used cars and other commodities. Little was known of him besides his positive nurturing and humility as a young man hailing from Bong County, Republic of Liberia. More besides, he is considered a soft spoken handsome man who graduated from the “Gboveh High School”, in Gbanga, Republic of Liberia.

For her part, we are reliably told that she was a regular house wife formerly married to a previous Konneh, who later died in Masenta, Republic of Guinea. She is reputed for being moody and highly forceful, either positively or negatively. Despite the lack of any formal education, she is considered the “Iron Lady of the Mandingo Struggle”. Little was known of her until she became the spiritual mentor of the late “President Lassana Kennteh”, following her dream about him regarding an aborted coupe that was later crushed. That was the beginning of her stardom amassing wealth and formidable respect despite of her Liberian citizenship.

Military Ascendancy:

Amidst the military conquest of fugitive Charles Taylor, especially, following the captured of the strategic border town of “Pampalamp” couple with the siege of Macenta, Guekedougou”, and other strategic towns of Guinea, there became the need to find a solution. This happened at a time when around 60% of the untrained Guinean army had become rebellious with deception on the rise, and the fall of the government imminent. It was then that the Late President sought the help of refugees who mainly comprised of “Mandingoes and Krahns”. The process of selecting a leader for the shadowy group became tedious with many serving intermittently until the imposition of Mr. Sekou Damte Konneh as the de-facto leader of the group by the Late “President Lassana Konneh”, through the influence of Mr. Konneh’s estranged wife Ms. Ashia Konneh.

It is imperative to note that his selection marked a monumental watershed in combating the growing pace of disintegration of Guinea. From the length to the breadth of the Country, the gallant men and women under his command booted and dismantled the advancing tugs of Mr. Taylor. This saved the country from total collapsed. Amidst the gained, Ms. Konneh yielded more authority combined with her elevation as a member of the kitchen cabinet and surrogate daughter of the late President.

With the cowardice retreat of the Taylor men and the optimism of success looming it became necessary to hall the bull by the horn by taking the war to it source Liberia. Accordingly, they were instrumental in chasing the enemies gradually dislodging them up to the final demised of the Taylor Empire.

Elements of Conflict:

As the saying goes “When a revolution matures, it eat up it own children”. In other words, sharing the dividends following a war is always marked by crisis, with the ongoing blood feud between the Konnehs being of no exemption.

It must be noted that the elements of feud and disunity were visible even from the initial stage of the struggle. There was this problem of usurpation of power between the couple. You will note that since Ms. Ashia Konneh wielded more power, many at times her decisions over shadowed that of Mr. Sekou Damate Konneh, which led to day light animosities. With in the ranks and files of the Movement, it became apparent that those who were not at peace with the superficial leader built alliances with Ms. Konneh in fostering their aspirations or visions. Former Speaker “George Dweah” and others spare headed this move of alliance with the “Iron Lady”. On the Other hand, the like of “Mr. Joe Gbarla and couple others” funding members joined partnership with “Chairman Sekou Damate Konneh”.

Apportioning Jobs:

Greed and extreme deceits were the standard that marked the distribution of jobs in “Bomi Hill, Bomi County”, following the cessation of hostilities. One of the contentious issues that led to the feud between the Konnehs was the appointment of “Mr. Lossene Kamara” as the Minister of Finance against the will of Ms. Ashia Konneh. She had argued that Mr. Kamara had collaborated with fugitive Charles Taylor. More besides, he is the brother in-law of Mr. Sekou Damate Konneh. “Whether or not it was a reasonable request on her part will be left with historian to judge”. But this was the most contentious bottle nick that led to the disintegration of the gains and the subsequent crumbling of the marriage

Another factor that may have contributed to the fracas was my appointment as the “Presidential Affairs Minister” by Mr. Damate Konneh. I had left for Ghana with the hope of contributing my quota only to be envied by leftists in the group who had maintained that I didn’t deserve such an appointment, in that I wasn’t a member of the Organization. However, every other person given jobs including Former President “Charles G. Bryant” were not members of the Organization, but were all in-cooperated. It was a historical contradiction that they tried to kill me in Bomi Hill.

I can vividly remember that click of Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPG), AK-47 Weapons, and mortars among others manifesting their disagreement with the decision among other policy decisions by Mr. Konneh. Many of the ranking men had been influenced by some of those mentioned supra to over turn the decision of Chairman Konneh. It was sheer luck that I survived that attack on my way to Monrovia, along with Mr. Mohammed O. Kamara, to take seat at the “Executive Mansion”, Monrovia, Liberia. Some of the men that very morning had gone in an ambush awaiting my arrival, but to no avail. In short, under gun point, Mr. Konneh was forced to reverse his decision followed by the appointment of Mr. Jackson Doe as the new Minister.

In the aftermath of the fracas, they both became at logger head destroying every thing achieved which impacts continue to be felt. We are told reliably that Ms. Konneh then used her influence with the late President leading to the expulsion of Mr. Konneh from Guinea and the seizure of his homes. He became dejected and fled to neighboring Sierra Leone where he enjoyed the hospitality of former Sierra Leonean President “Tijanie Kaba”. This respite was short live, until the election of a new Sierra Leonen President and he had to seek shelter once again in Guinea for fear of his life.

Many of us sought leniency from Ms. Konneh to allow Mr. Konneh to resettle in Guinea, which was accepted. Despite of her acceptance, we didn’t see the honor associated with the compassion. I personally charted with Mr. Konneh recently in Conakry and he explained the problems he was undergoing. I tried to mediate in reaching a common group for reunion, but to no avail up to the time of my departure. It is sad story that they both helped to dismantle every thing we achieve as Mandingoes as a result of their disunity.

Ms. Ashia Konneh Humiliation:

The un-touchable posture of Ms. Konneh became a mirage recently when under mysterious circumstances dozens of armed men from the new junta raided her home destroying every thing she had labored for. More besides, we are told that she was beaten sustaining bodily injuries from sharp objects. In addition to the mayhem, they took away thousands dollars, European and Guinean notes. It was amazing to every one further indicating the final demised of President “Lassana Konneth”. No one would have conceived the notion that she would have been susceptible to such a fate. This manifests the transitory nature of life that nothing last forever. However, analysts are taken aback that Ms. Konneh blames her ordeal on the disinformation of her estranged husband which led to his confinement.

Fate of Mr. Sekou Damate Konneh:

Political pundits are concerned about what may have led to Mr. Konneh imprisonment by the Guinean Junta despite of his enviable achievements in liberating that neighboring Country. A close confident of “President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf” who travelled with her recently in Guinea and prefers anonymity maintains that indeed, Mr. Konneh had told the Guinean Government that Ms. Konneh was harboring over “Two Hundred and Fifty Men”, geared toward over throwing the Guinean Government which led to her humiliation. On the other hand Ms. Konneh reported to the authority the opposite which led to his imprisonment. No one knows who is telling the true. But the reality is, it is now wasted water and both parties are facing the impact.

Roles of President Sirleaf:

“Whether or not it is conceive”, but the truth is, it was his gallantry that led to the stability ushering her as President of Liberia. More besides, he is an important stake holder whose contribution is highly important even in post war Liberia. We had expected some diplomatic overtures on her part during recent visits to Conakry, Guinea. It was widely anticipated that it would have been a talking point, but to the contrary. We had expected her to morally play her role in ensuring that this fine son of the soil is released despite of his odds. There is another school of thought that that there may be a conspiracy theory to have him kept in jail in definitely equating his situation to that of fugitive Charles Taylor.

To the Guinean Junta:

We are mindful of the chaotic state of affairs having seized power at the barrel of the gun; we are aware of the precarious nature of the government, characterized by apprehensiveness and suspicion, yet we urge you to have him pardoned taking in to consideration the heroic roles he played in liberating Guinea. On the other hand, granted, even if he may have committed a crime it is against “International Law” to have him imprisoned indefinitely. It will be in your interest where you to have him charged and prosecuted if other options failed.

Admonition:

We call on the “Mandingo Caucus of Liberia” to liaise and advocate leading to the release of Mr. Konneh. We specifically appeal to Former Finance Minister, Lossene Kamara to manifest gratitude in helping a man that lost every thing as a result of maintaining in-law ship which led to his eventual political pit hole.

We must understand that disunity and divisiveness are the root causes for underdevelopment and misery. In short, if they had listened to each other forge unity, probably we would have still remained at the helm of power in Liberia under their tutelage.

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