The Former presidential candidate for the opposition All People’s Congress (APC) Dr. Samura Kamara has recently raised serious alarm following a fire incident at the historic State House, adding his voice to growing concerns over a series of mysterious blazes affecting key national landmarks across the country.
In a statement released this week, Dr. Kamara questioned the lack of “convincing explanations” for these disasters, highlighting the potential threat to the nation’s heritage and stability.
He also drew attention to a disturbing pattern of fires in recent years, including the destruction of the historic Cotton Tree, a blaze at the Ministry of Trade in June 2020, the Ministry of Social Welfare in 2019, and damage to the Electoral Commission offices in eastern Freetown. He also noted the recurring and unexplained fire outbreaks affecting farms, particularly in the northern regions of the country.
The fire, which reportedly occurred within the premises of the 122-year-old State House — the official seat of the presidency and a symbol of Sierra Leone’s post-colonial identity — is currently under investigation. Though the full extent of the damage is yet to
The State House, once the official residence of colonial governors and later prime ministers, holds immense symbolic value for Sierra Leoneans. Dr. Kamara emphasized that its significance goes beyond politics, representing a historical continuity that connects the country’s past, present, and future.
“These are not just buildings,” he stated. “They are the physical embodiments of who we are — our struggles, our democracy, and our unity,” he said.
He concluded his statement by referencing the iconic lion statues at the gates of State House, suggesting they are observing the situation with “utmost concern.”
