In a country where protest movements are often met with heavy-handed policing, it is striking to witness a high-profile demonstration led by none other than the First Lady of Sierra Leone, Fatima Bio, without any resistance from the security forces. This development raises serious questions: Did she obtain police clearance before leading the protest at Koidu Holdings in Kono District? Or does her status as First Lady place her above the law? More importantly, why did the police not intervene as they have done in other demonstrations led by ordinary citizens or opposition figures?
These questions expose the double standards in Sierra Leone’s law enforcement and governance. It is a troubling sign when those in power manipulate the very laws that are harshly enforced against others. If the First Lady, a government figure, can freely organize and lead a protest without clearance, then what message does that send about justice and fairness in the country?
A History of Police Crackdown on Protests:
Sierra Leone has a well-documented history of police repression against protests. When opposition parties, civil society organizations, or ordinary citizens attempt to voice their grievances, they are often met with brutal force. The recent past has seen a series of violent crackdowns on demonstrations.
The August 10, 2022 Protests: When citizens protested against economic hardship and poor governance, police and military forces responded with deadly force, killing dozens of people. The government later labelled the protesters as “terrorists” and initiated mass arrests.
APC Demonstrations: The opposition All People’s Congress (APC) has frequently faced police resistance when attempting to hold public protests, often requiring court orders and enduring excessive restrictions. Teachers, Students, and Workers’ Struggles: Strikes and protests by students, teachers, and workers demanding better wages and conditions have often been met with intimidation, arrests, and police brutality.
In all these cases, the justification for the police clampdowns has been the so-called Public Order Act, which requires groups to seek police clearance before organizing public demonstrations. However, when it came to the First Lady’s protest at Koidu Holdings, there was a glaring absence of police interference.
Did Fatima Bio Obtain Police Clearance?
If Sierra Leone is truly governed by the rule of law, then the First Lady should have followed the same procedures required of ordinary citizens. The key question remains: Did she obtain police clearance before leading the protest?
There has been no official statement from the police confirming that Fatima Bio sought or received permission. In fact, if she had applied, it would have likely sparked public debate, given how difficult it has been for other groups to obtain such clearance. The silence from the police suggests that either:
She did not obtain clearance and went ahead with the protest anyway.
The police were instructed to allow her protest while denying others the same right.
Either way, this is a damning indictment of the government’s selective enforcement of laws. If a protest is only deemed lawful when led by someone in the ruling circle, then Sierra Leone has effectively abandoned democratic principles in favour of autocratic rule.
Is Fatima Bio Above the Law?
If ordinary Sierra Leoneans require police approval to hold protests, why does the First Lady enjoy the privilege of doing so without scrutiny? This suggests that the laws apply differently depending on one’s political status.
Fatima Bio is not an elected official. She holds no government office with executive powers. Yet, her actions often carry the weight of someone with unchecked authority. This is not the first time she has acted beyond her official role:
She has made politically charged statements, attacking opposition figures in a way that violates the neutrality expected of a First Lady.
She has engaged in state functions and international diplomacy without clear constitutional backing.
She has launched initiatives using government resources, raising concerns about transparency and accountability.
The fact that security forces did not intervene in her protest suggests a broader problem—an unequal application of the law that shields those in power while crushing the dissent of ordinary citizens.
Where Were the Police?
In every major protest by opposition figures or civil society, the police have responded swiftly with arrests, tear gas, and sometimes live ammunition. Yet, when the First Lady led her protest, there was no police presence to disperse the crowd, no threats of arrest, and no accusations of inciting public disorder.
This glaring double standard raises critical questions:
Who ordered the police to stay away? The same government that routinely justifies repression in the name of “national security” conveniently looked the other way when one of its own led a protest.
Does this mean government-backed protests are automatically legal? If so, it confirms that the application of the Public Order Act is politically motivated.
Would an opposition-led protest in Kono be allowed? If an APC leader or civil society group attempted the same demonstration, would they be given the same freedom? History suggests otherwise.
What Does This Mean for Sierra Leone’s Democracy?
Democracy is built on the foundation of equal rights, justice, and accountability. When certain individuals are above the law while others are harshly punished for exercising their rights, it creates a dangerous precedent.
Fatima Bio’s unchecked ability to lead a protest without police interference exposes the hypocrisy of the current administration. It demonstrates that laws in Sierra Leone are selectively enforced to serve the ruling elite while suppressing those who dare to challenge them.
The international community, human rights organizations, and Sierra Leoneans at home and abroad must take note of these injustices. The selective application of the law undermines democratic governance and deepens public mistrust in the police and judiciary.
Posterity is Awaits:
History will remember the actions of today’s leaders. Those who use power to oppress others often believe they are invincible, but no regime lasts forever. Fatima Bio’s protest at Koidu Holdings, if carried out without police clearance, will be recorded as yet another instance of political hypocrisy in Sierra Leone.
Sierra Leoneans are watching. The world is watching. Posterity is watching.
If the law only applies to some but not to others, then Sierra Leone is not governed by justice but by political favouritism. This protest, or rather the police’s inaction toward it, is a stark reminder that the struggle for equal rights and justice in Sierra Leone is far from over.