Sierra Leone Government Ignores ECOWAS Court Ruling, Leaving Victim of Police Brutality Without Justice
One year after the ECOWAS Court ruled in favor of Mohamed Morlu, a victim of police brutality during a 2017 student protest in Bo, Sierra Leone, the government has still not taken action to follow through on the Court’s decision.
The ruling, issued on 28 February 2024, found Sierra Leone responsible for violating Mr. Morlu’s rights when police shot him during the peaceful protest. The Court ordered the government to compensate Morlu and to investigate the officers involved. However, a year later, Morlu has not received any compensation, and no steps have been taken to hold those responsible accountable.
AdvocAid and the Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa (IHRDA), which supported Morlu’s case, have raised concerns about the government’s failure to act. Despite repeated requests to meet, the government has not responded.
Alison French, Executive Director of AdvocAid, said, “This continued inaction shows a disregard for the rule of law and Sierra Leone’s commitment to human rights. The Court’s ruling wasn’t just about compensation it was about holding police accountable.”
Dr. Musa Kika, Executive Director of IHRDA, added, “By not implementing this ruling, Sierra Leone is allowing a culture of impunity to persist.”
As of now, Mr. Morlu has not received the compensation he was awarded, and the authorities have yet to take action against the officers involved in the shooting. The government’s failure to comply with the Court’s decision raises serious concerns about its commitment to international human rights obligations.
All we need in life is equal rights.
Equal rights ke for where? So u wan get equal rights with politicians think again
Dude we should have equal rights regardless of their position, we’re all citizens of the land
Look, you see this country eh if anyone wants to come your way just avoid that person, because even the Court of Justice, there is no justice there
🤣🤣e dey wine them