In June next year, the 2023 general elections in Sierra Leone will commence and the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) have a great role in ensuring the peace and stability of the country is maintained during that period.

Over the years, the Sierra Leone Police have come under the radar for being used by the government in power to restrain the freedom of the people, sometimes unfairly.

You may not blame the police alone for being used as a political tool to silence critical voices and at the same time suppress opposition but one will blame the politician and the institutional psyche that have been developed over the years by the Sierra Leone Police.

The mentality of the Sierra Leone Police as an institution is deeply embedded in the concept of the one party system Sierra Leone underwent between the 1970s and 1980s in which the Police believed that they were above the law and that they should only serve the interest of the politicians.

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Police officers are seen outside Sierra Leone’s high court in Freetown, Sierra Leone March 26, 2018. REUTERS/Olivia Acland – RC1429903410

Policing in a democratic state makes the police more responsible to the public. The 1991 constitution of Sierra Leone puts the SLP more or less under the control of the politicians.

Section 156 of the 1991 constitution clearly puts the SLP under the control of police council that is being chaired by the Vice President, the Minister of Internal Affairs and two members that are supposed to be appointed by the President.

Having this background of the Sierra Leone Police, it is actually impossible for politicians not involve into the activities of the police, and that will have an adverse effect in the 2023 elections.

Consequently, that has worried the opposition parties who among other things expressed their dismay in the conducts of the security apparatus ahead of next years elections.

Over the years, opposition politicians have been arrested, charged to court and sent to prison for criticising or abusing the President.

Even civil society organisations and activists have been questioning the motive behind the perceived arbitrary arrests and detention of opposing views by the security sector ahead of the 2023 elections.

One of the leading civil society organisations in the country, Campaign for Human Rights and Development International (CHRDI) recently issued a position statement expressing concern that the number of arrests of prominent opposition members, including prominent women, is on the rise, as we approach the 2023 national elections.

CHRDI gave several instances of opposition politicians like; Sidi Yayah Tunis of APC, Femi Claudius-Cole of Unity Party, Diana Finda Konomanyi of APC, Dr Dennis Bright of NGC, Dr Sylvia Olayinka Blyden of APC, and other arrested by Sierra Leone Police for criticising the government.

CHRDI also observed with grave concern an increase in the arrest and prosecution of other citizens who speak up against the government or criticize the government and the leaders at State House.

“CHRDI is deeply concerned about this pattern of arrests of opposition leaders in Sierra Leone, as well as arrests of civilian people who criticize the government,” the civil society organisation stated.

Furthermore, the European Union 2021 reports on Sierra Leone accused the police of failing to be independent and impartial.

“The Mission has been told that there is a significant decrease in trust in the essential bodies which play integral roles in the forthcoming elections. These include the judiciary, NEC, PPRC and the police. Our findings are that these institutions’ reputations are less trusted than is needed. But further, our assessment is that there are real grounds for concern in the ways in which these bodies have administered recent bye-elections,” EU stated.

Going forward, the Sierra Leone Police has a role in demonstrating their neutrality and independence which are absolutely essential for the 2023 elections to be free, fair and peaceful.