The Mano River union youth Parliament has in a press release on Monday 4 July stated that the union stands in solidarity with Madam Femi Claudius Cole and the Women of Sierra Leone, and also call on all Youth to be law abiding, refrain from any form of violence and keep the Peace for the good of all.

In the Release the Union said as a Regional Youth Leadership structure, they are STRONGLY in solidarity with Madam Femi Claudius Cole & the Women of Sierra Leone. Adding that they are appalled by the level of intimidation against a group of women seeking to peacefully register their dissatisfaction with the current governance/economic situation in their country and the arbitrary arrests of youth across the country.

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As a Regional Youth Leadership structure, we are STRONGLY in solidarity with Madam Femi Claudius Cole & the Women of Sierra Leone. We are appalled by the level of intimidation against a group of women seeking to peacefully register their dissatisfaction with the current governance/economic situation in their country and the arbitrary arrests of youth across the country.

As a Parliament, we have received a number of reports from young people complaining about how they have been mistreated, arrested and imprisoned for either trying to peacefully protest of simply asking relevant questions regarding the governance/economic situation in the country and this has led to many living in fear for their lives in a “Democratic” Sierra Leone.

As a nation and people, we have come a long way in consolidating Peace & Democracy, and we must all be reminded that; “Peaceful protests are not just a Democratic but Fundamental, Civic & Constitutional rights and the Sierra Leone Police must not be used as a tool of oppression against voices of dissent, rather we entreat our Leaders of Government to engage its citizens, listen to their cries and try as best as possible to address the issues of concern”.

We unanimously call for the immediate release of Madam Femi Claudius Cole as we have been reliably informed that she has been detained at the CID on “orders from above”, and we further ask that the Sierra Leone Police allows and provide security for the women intending to host a Peaceful Protest as a Good governance practice.

Meanwhile, given the current Global crisis which has brought so many uncertainties, we wish to call on all Youth to be law abiding, refrain from any form of violence and keep the Peace for the good of all.