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“Justice delayed is justice denied.” That time-worn maxim has been thrust into the spotlight once again, as a serious allegation of sexual assault involving a senior officer in the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) garners national attention.
Legal experts, rights groups, and members of the public are now questioning the appropriateness of an internal military investigation into a matter widely seen as falling squarely within the jurisdiction of civilian law enforcement and the courts.
According to reliable sources, Colonel Kwame Francis Kanu, Commander of the Training Command at Benguema, was detained following allegations of raping a female junior officer under his command.
The incident is said to have occurred on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at Villa 3, Hill Cut Junction, Wilberforce – a residence reportedly occupied by the colonel. It is alleged that the victim was coerced into preparing food for the senior officer, and events thereafter escalated into a serious case of sexual assault.
A preliminary medical report detailing the victim’s condition revealed troubling signs of physical trauma, including general body pain, bitten lips, and vaginal eruption – indicators consistent with aggravated sexual assault.
Sources within the legal community have expressed concern that the military police’s initial report was “flawed” and that a comprehensive file containing all evidence must be submitted to qualified legal officers for proper review.
Legal practitioners insist that internal investigations are not a substitute for criminal ones, especially when the alleged offense involves rape – a grave matter that falls outside the disciplinary purview of the military’s chain of command.
“The law is clear,” a legal source stressed. “The Sierra Leone Police should investigate, and the Attorney General or Director of Public Prosecutions should prosecute in the High Court through the Sexual Offences Model Court. The military police and court martial processes should not override the country’s established legal frameworks for sexual offoffenses
The Campaign for Human Rights and Development International (CHRDI), a rights-based organization that has long advocated for gender reforms in security institutions, condemned the incident in strong terms and called for immediate civilian oversight. The organization previously raised similar concerns in January 2022 about rampant sexual harassment and gender-based violence within RSLAF.
“This is not just an isolated case,” CHRDI warned in a statement. “It reflects deeper structural issues. Victims deserve justice, and perpetrators – regardless of rank – must be held accountable under the law.”
In its internal statement, the RSLAF acknowledged launching “an investigation to uncover the facts surrounding the incident.” However, critics argue that the very framing of this response implies confirmation that something indeed occurred, while simultaneously casting doubt on the nature or justification of the act. Legal analysts emphasize that the facts RSLAF seeks to “uncover” are not the core legal issue – what matters are the elements constituting the offense, not any contextual relationship or circumstance that might have led to it.
As one legal source pointed out, “Assuming – without conceding – there was a prior relationship, that does not justify rape. Even a husband can be charged with raping his wife. The law protects people in vulnerable states – whether intoxicated, asleep, mentally unwell, or under duress.”
CHRDI also raised concern over the military police’s capacity to handle such sensitive matters, arguing that their personnel may lack the requisite training to manage cases involving sexual trauma. The organization is therefore advocating for the immediate handover of the case to civilian police forces and the appropriate use of the Sexual Offences Model Court (SOMC), which was established in 2020 specifically to handle such cases with care, confidentiality, and speed.
The Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act of 2019 further empowers the Attorney General to prosecute cases directly in the High Court without a committal trial, thereby enabling quicker legal responses to such grave offenses.
In response to growing public scrutiny, this medium contacted Colonel Issa Bangura, Director of Defence Public Relations and Information at the Ministry of Defence. He confirmed that the case is under active investigation and assured that a full report will be made public upon completion.
The unfolding case has sparked renewed calls for structural reforms within the armed forces, with emphasis on safeguarding the dignity and rights of female personnel. It also reignites the national conversation about the urgent need for civilian oversight and legal clarity when serious crimes – especially those of a sexual nature – arise within the ranks of Sierra Leone’s security institutions.
This medium will continue to follow developments and remains committed to publishing the findings of the investigation once they are officially released.
