RIGHTS ON PAPER, REPRESSION IN PRACTICE
…U.S. REPORT SLAMS PAOPA GOV’T
By Ibrahim Alusine Kamara (Kamalo)
The U.S. Department of State has released its 2024 Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Sierra Leone, and the findings paint a sobering picture: while the government has curbed some of the bloodier abuses of recent years, the culture of repression and impunity remains firmly intact.
The report notes that unlike in 2022 and 2023, there were no confirmed cases of arbitrary or unlawful killings by security forces. Yet, the absence of state-sanctioned killings does not equate to respect for rights. Sierra Leone continues to grapple with credible reports of arbitrary arrests, unlawful detentions, and an entrenched lack of accountability.
One of the most alarming incidents highlighted was the June arrest and detention of a lawyer by the Sierra Leone Police’s Criminal Investigation Department. His alleged offense: a tweet questioning the legitimacy of President Julius Maada Bio and the head of the bar association. Charged with “cyberstalking,” the case exposed how far authorities are willing to stretch the law to intimidate critics and silence dissent.
Although the Sierra Leonean constitution guarantees freedom of expression, the report makes clear that this right is increasingly hollow. Journalists, lawyers, and ordinary citizens operate in an atmosphere of fear, where speaking out against the government can mean harassment, detention, or worse.
The report concludes that while the government has taken isolated steps to address abuses, impunity remains the rule rather than the exception. The police and other state institutions continue to act without meaningful checks, eroding public trust in the rule of law.
For Sierra Leoneans, the U.S. assessment is another stark reminder: the promise of democratic freedoms exists largely on paper, while in practice, the machinery of state power continues to crush accountability and dissent.