Lawyer Augustine Marrah Urges Police to Allow APC Protest, Calls for Dialogue

Prominent lawyer and pro-democracy activist Augustine Sorie Sengbe Marrah has urged the Sierra Leone Police to permit the opposition All People’s Congress (APC) to hold a peaceful protest and provide the necessary security to ensure it remains non-violent.

Marrah made the call as part of a broader appeal for dialogue, institutional trust, and strict adherence to existing political agreements.

Speaking to reporters, he said that if the opposition believes a protest would be more effective than dialogue, the police should allow the demonstration while ensuring adequate security is in place.

“If the opposition thinks protest can be more effective than dialogue, let the police allow them and provide them with the required security,” Marrah said.

He further recommended that the security sector engage APC representatives in advance to agree on the nature, routes, and guidelines for the protest, noting that such coordination could help reduce the risk of confrontation.

Marrah emphasized that the most sustainable path forward lies in fully implementing the Tripartite Agreement and the Agreement on National Unity.

He noted that the appointment of the Chairman of the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone has been contested, urging all political actors to return to the negotiating table and adhere to previously agreed terms.

“The appointment of the ECSL Chairman has been questioned, so it is right for all the political parties to go back into the room and follow the agreements,” he said.

Marrah also suggested that the president could help ease tensions by reconsidering the disputed appointment, describing such a move as a demonstration of responsive leadership and democratic accountability.

“If the president withdraws that appointment, he will be sending a clear message not only to the people of Sierra Leone, but to the world that he is a listening president and that democracy is at work,” he stated.

He warned that failure to address the issue could have implications for political stability ahead of the next electoral cycle.