The recent protest by Sierra Leoneans in New York, during the last United Nations General Assembly, against President Julius Maada Bio has shown the deep-rooted hatred and bitterness which has engulfed Sierra Leoneans both at home and abroad.

Had it not been the presence of personnel from the New York Police Department (NYPD), the stand-off between supporters of the Sierra Leone’s Party (SLPP) who were dressed in their party colours, on one hand and the angry Sierra Leoneans who claimed to be representing what they dubbed as People’s Power in Politics (PPP), Sierra Leone Lives Matter and Concerned Sierra Leoneans, on the other, would have brought about violent clashes among Sierra Leoneans at the Dag Hammarskjeold Square, United Nations, in New York.

For many local political observers, the noisy protests, the annoying chants, the loud boos and demanding insults thrown at President Bio in New York are pointers that Sierra Leone is now so divided that some section of the citizens no longer have respect for presidency.

During the protest things got so heated at one step in to stop a flare-up between the protesters and supporters of the SLPP. The bitterness and hatred among Sierra Leoneans was seen in what were written on the placards and banners, which further highlighted how divided Sierra Leone is.

“Sierra Leoneans are very angry with the Bio administration and what happened at the UN showed the feelings of the people on the streets of Sierra Leone during the violent August 10 demonstrations,” said one protester, Ahmed Mansaray. He blamed President Bio for provoking anger from his people who are said be very disappointed with his close to five years rule.
Some of the protesters criticized President Bio for what they claimed that his government is turning a blind eye to allegations of massive corruption, the disrespect for the National Constitution and the rule of law, and also for the arbitrary arrests of opposition leaders.

Meanwhile, supporters of the SLPP are still blaming the All Peoples Congress (APC) for the New York protest against President Bio, accusing the main opposition of desperation to return to power at all cost. But the APC supporters have been denying allegations that it was their party that disguised to the PPP, Sierra Leone Lives Matter and Concerned Sierra Leoneans.

What is also worrisome is the fact that even on social media the divide, hatred and bitterness are always seen. One Sierra Leonean social media commentator notes that, “The narratives of many of the exchanges of social media in recent times have proven to be vitriolic, and very bad for unity. Such nuanced positions even attack the sovereignty of the State. Tribal baiting, hate speech and innuendoes are to toxic to mention here. It is for this writer a matter of revulsion, that so many of our young people can be so brazen to say some of the things being said on this space… there has to be an end to the many lies and false truths that are put there.”