Sylvia Olayinka Blyden, former minister, political commentator and an aspiring 2028 presidential candidate for the main opposition APC, has on March 24th 2026, appeared before the High Court in Freetown in a new civil case filed by the Sierra Leone government led by President Julius Maada Bio. This fresh application matter is connected to the European Union Election Observer report on Sierra Leone’s 2023 elections.
Dr Blyden said the case is linked to a lawsuit that she first filed in 2023 against the European Union Election Observers, whom she accused of defaming her in their report on the June 2023 elections.
Writing on social media Dr. Blyden declined to comment on the matter which is now in front of the High Court. However, documents shared two months ago on the matter show that the initial case was filed in October 2023, but the EU observers left the country before they could be served with the defamation court documents.
Reports say the EU observers are expected to return to Sierra Leone for a mid-term review, but are concerned that the pending lawsuit could be served on them when they arrive. Credible sources alleged that because of this, the European Union engaged the Government of Sierra Leone with their concerns.
According to the court filings shared, the government has now decided to enter Blyden’s private civil dispute by filing a new case in court, which now makes the government to become a party representing the EU observers in the legal matter and asking the Court to throw out the lawsuit of Blyden.
The documents before the High Court include the Government granting back-dated diplomatic immunity to the EU observers so as to thwart Blyden’s court case from proceeding.
Dr Blyden represented herself during the latest court hearing and said the matter has been adjourned to next week for further arguments. She noted that this is the eighth court case involving her and the current administration, adding that she has become familiar with legal battles with the government in recent years.
