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Widespread condemnation has erupted following reports that the Sierra Leone Police targeted members of the Fullah community during a search operation at Lumley Beach in Freetown on Sunday, December 15th.
The operation, aimed at identifying undocumented foreign nationals, primarily Guineans, has sparked outrage and accusations of ethnic profiling.
The situation reportedly unfolded after the police began conducting searches for undocumented individuals. However, Fullahs, a prominent tribe in Sierra Leone with ancestral ties to Guinea, were allegedly singled out during the operation.
This incident follows reports of over 1,000 Sierra Leoneans living in makeshift camps along beaches and in slums in Guinea being forcibly deported to the Sierra Leone-Guinea border after accusations of loitering, theft, and other criminal activities.
Citizens have taken to social media to voice their anger and frustration over what they perceive as discriminatory practices by the police.
Mamadu Karna Barrie, a prominent Fullah community member, wrote:
“Since I was born, I have never felt insulted or insecure in my entire life like today. My identity as a Fullah was dragged to the ground as if I don’t matter in my own beloved country, Sierra Leone. How can a police officer, whose salary is paid from my taxes, arrest my family member for a National Identity Card? Are we the only people that have origins from Guinea? Don’t we have other tribes with Guinean roots? This is a personal attack on all Fullahs in Sierra Leone.”
Another citizen, Clement Jesus Massaquoi, added:
“This procedure is totally wrong. The government should act with maturity. How can you identify someone’s nationality by their tribe? It’s completely unacceptable and shows a lack of professionalism. The Fullah people deserve an apology. Nationality is determined by place of birth or legal identification, not by ethnicity.”
Following the backlash, it has been reported that those arrested during the operation have since been released. However, the incident has left a bitter taste, with many questioning the actions and accountability of the Sierra Leone Police.
Citizens are urging the government to ensure fair and transparent policing practices that do not discriminate against any tribe or community.
As the dust settles, the incident serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between national security and respect for human rights, with many calling for greater oversight of police operations to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
These two neighbouring countries should stop this act, though Guinea has started. I encourage that Sierra Leone should not follow a bad and discriminatory practice.
You have to ask your president in Guinea, who’s treating sierra Leonean badly in Guinea.Is like he doesn’t know if a lot of Guineans are in sierra Leone
@jusus manssaquoi, did you condemned the guinean Government after they humiliated our fellow sierra Leonean
Awa let see we will close all borders soon
Stupid fool, are fula’s the one’s that deported them?
The policemen are right. The same way the fullah’s are feeling a pain in here that is the say to our brothers and sister in guinea. The Guinea Government doesn’t want to know If you are a citizen in the country, hence you are having a trace from Sierra Leone, they will match you out. So let them feel the same pain, nothing is special about them. Let them go I’m in support with the police officer in Sierra Leone .
Is a pity for our nation
Nice
Why didn’t you condemn the action of the Guinea government against sierra Leonean brothers in the recent happenings in Guinea.
We should never result to a Tit-for-Tat about nationality. We’re better than this
Yes indeed, this act if foolishness needs to stopped forthwith…
Never
Did the Guinean government follow due process according to international law no so we will respond in kind you didn’t condemn your government I don’t condemn mine
They condemn the arrest of Fullahs who are foreigner and happy about the way Sierra Leonean are killed and deported?
But Fullah’s are not the only people who are connected to Guinea. The soso, Mandingo are all connected to Guinea but most of them were born here in S\L. SLP, please stop this nonsense and find another to get at Mamadou Dumbuya.