Human rights organisations, opposition leaders, and global organisations have called for immediate & unconditional release of all political prisoners.

There are nearly 100 political prisoners in Sierra Leone today. The time has come to impose consequences on the Sierra Leone government for its abysmal treatment of its own people. We are calling for congressional/parliamentary hearings on the declining human rights situation in Sierra Leone. Organise political leaders’ boycott the Mid-Term Census which is untimely, unconstitutional, and unprecedented, according to a press statement by the human rights activist. In an open letter dated December 21, 2021, the activists touched on the Human Rights situation in Sierra Leone – (Photo: President Bio has damaged Sierra Leone’s democracy).

Open Letter Regarding the Human Rights Situation in Sierra Leone – December 21, 2021

We the undersigned Human Rights Activists and Social Media Activists are alarmed by the deteriorating human rights situation in Sierra Leone. Arrests and detentions of journalists, civil society and human rights activists, social media activists, social media commentators, and opposition figures have multiplied; Sierra Leone now has twice as many political prisoners as Cameroon, Zambia, Burundi, Kenya, and Rwanda put together. (Photo: Alliance Democratic Party ADP leader Mohamed Kamarainba Mansaray is the highest-profile political detainee who has been refused bail by First Lady Fatima Jabbe Bio aka ‘Mob Justice’. He is charged with a politically motivated rape case).

The time has come to impose consequences on the Sierra Leonean government for its abysmal treatment of its own people. We are calling for congressional/parliamentary hearings on the declining human rights situation in Sierra Leoneans to shine a spotlight on the abuses. Increasing awareness about the real situation inside the country is imperative. Organise political leaders’ boycott the Mid-Term census which is untimely, unconstitutional, and unprecedented.

Human rights organisations, opposition leaders, and some international organizations have already called for the immediate and unconditional release of political prisoners, but such calls have not been heeded by the government of Sierra Leone, which persists in a targeted campaign against critics of the government. There are nearly 100 political prisoners in Sierra Leone. Torture, harassment, and intimidation of family members of opposition activists, human rights defenders, and their lawyers should stand up for human rights in Sierra Leone and demand the immediate and unconditional release of Sierra Leonean women in politics and human rights defenders.

However, the promotion, respect, and protection of human rights are a prerequisite for the establishment of a democratic society and the rule of law. This is enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of Sierra Leone. As defined by the ‘Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups, and Organisations of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognised Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms to all Sierra Leoneans both Home and Abroad. We urge you to choose democracy and respect for human rights, a course that is in the best interests of the people of Sierra Leone and in the cause of international peace. We thank you for your attention to these pressing issues and are available to provide you with any further information if so required.

Signed,

Human Right Activist, Mohamed Salieu Kamara