Sierra Leone Supreme Court rules the president had power to fire vice president

FREETOWN, Sierra Leone – Sierra Leone's Supreme Court has said that the president had the authority to fire the vice president.

The court, in a unanimous vote, said Wednesday that because Vice President Samuel Sam-Sumana didn't belong to a political party, one of the requirements to hold office, President Ernest Bai Koroma could fire the vice president.

Sam-Sumana was expelled from the ruling party in March. The All People's Congress made several accusations against him, including that he was instigating unrest. He has denied the accusations. He then said his security team was disarmed and he fled his residence in fear. He sought asylum with the U.S. Embassy, which did not grant the request.

Sam-Sumana was then fired.

He went to the Supreme Court to challenge the firing as unconstitutional.