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In attempting to critically analyze the ugly incidents that occurred in Sierra Leone, particularly in East of Freetown and some parts of the north of the country on Wednesday 10 August 2022, one should be able to logically identify the difference between terrorism and protest.
A terrorist is a person, usually a member of a group, who uses or advocates terrorism. Terrorism is the use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, especially for political purposes.
A terrorist is different from a protester in that a terrorist deliberately uses violence with a motivation, usually political in nature.
A protest is a complaint or objection against an idea, an act, or a way of doing things.
Protesters may organize a protest as a way of publicly making their opinions heard in an attempt to influence public opinion or government policy, while domestic terrorism is an act of violent, criminal acts committed by individuals and/or groups to further ideological goals stemming from domestic influences, such as those of a political, religious, social, racial, or environmental nature.
Politically motivated Protests may not always be peaceful, people may misuse protests for their own agenda as it will not be in line with the opinions and preferences of the general public. Politically motivated protests may not lead to significant change, property damage and loss of lives related to demonstrations, politically motivated protests may lead to a drop in GDP, as economic activities are disrupted and put on standstill
In my opinion, protests and demonstrations are part of a working democracy and are also crucial to raise the awareness of the general public and of politicians on important problems, but it should be done within the framework of the laws of the land.
Facts about the recent protest in part of Freetown and other part of the North-West regions
1. The August 10 protest in Sierra Leone was organized by people, who from 2018 to date have vowed to bring civil unrest to the country, and that of the SLPP government. This is justified by numerous hate audio messages continuously being released by one ADEBAYOH, who has been calling on his political kinds to protest against the government of the day. This action started before the start of the Coronavirus, and the Russia – Ukraine war that has left the entire world in economic turmoil.
2. During a town hall meeting in England when Cherenor Maju Bah, the 2018 Presidential Running mate of the APC, and current Leader of the APC in the Sierra Leone Parliament visited, his supporters asked him (Chericoco) to unveil plans on how they could eliminate (Kill) the President Julius Maada Bio.
3. The head of the protesters (ADEBAYOH) in an audio message, told his political APC party not to participate in a national development (Mid Term Census). This was followed by an official Press Statement from the All People’s Party Congress (APC) party discouraging its members from participating in the same.
4. The head of the protesters (ADEBAYO) again in an audio message told his politically fickle minded followers not to accept the result of the Mid Term Census. This was also followed by an official Press Statement from the APC urging its membership not to accept the same result.
5. Similarly, ADEBAYOH in an audio message called on his kind to engage in an illegal protest without any police clearance. Again, an aspirant for the Secretary General position in the APC, Ady Macaulay, who is the former Anti-Corruption boss under the APC, in a tweet on social media called on the same youth to protest without police clearance.
6. The protests were ONLY carried out in some parts of Freetown and in the political strongholds of the APC.
7. The protesters focused on vandalizing government properties, and those belonging to the ruling SLPP government.
8. The protesters were armed and with the sole purpose of overthrowing a democratically elected government.
With these analysis, right thinking citizens and compatriots will be the judges as to why in my opinion I called the situation as an act of terrorism, organized and executed by members of the APC party.
