Sierra Leone, since 2018, has seen no boring Christmas than this year of our Lord, 2023 with many jokingly saying that it should be postponed. The move for postponement is a paradox as the Christmas date 25th December is fixed and cannot be shifted to another date except another Christmas comes.
Sierra Leone’s capital, Freetown has unusual calm and quietness that signals no joy in a Christmas eve as fear and panic hangs on the atmosphere. No one can celebrate in a situation where their homes could be broken into at any time, mobile phones searched and confiscated by security personnel without search warrants.
The people have double jeopardy: they fear the return of those who have melted into the bush as well police and military brutality. Security experts have argued that the fear of crime is more potent than real crime itself.
People, especially those in eastern communities in Freetwon, could also be picked up from homes and whisked into police and prison cells, most times without being told the reason for arrest as prescribed by law. Section 13 of the Criminal Procedure Act outline circumstances under which a person can be arrested without warrant, but the reverse seems to be taking place.
Mere finger pointing formed the basis of several arrest and detention that have taken place in days gone by and have not ceased, and most of those arrested will not see the light of day until the festive period passes off.
They would not enjoy the company of their loved ones who they had expected to stay with throughout the festive period. Those whose family members have succumbed to the barrel of the gun would also be in a state of sadness. Although tears still stream the cheeks of the distress, the waves of arrest still continues with residents in eastern Freetown being the most vulnerable.
By the incessant arrest, it looks like security forces have the objective to fill again prison cells after they were emptied last month. At the moment, the people have a freedom but one that is referred to as a “mickey mouse freedom.”
Police and the army went on the rampage after armed attacks on specific military and police targets late last month with the assailants breaking into armouries and making away with arms and ammunition which could not be quantified at the moment.
The attacks were the worst military assaults in recent times claiming the lives of 18 security personnel with casualty figures for soldiers standing at 15.
2 police 1 prison officers were among the dead. It is a big loss for the security forces who have launched a manhunt in search of the marauders.
They were chased out of the city but bulldozed all roadblocks at Welington, Calaba Town, Jui, Hastings and Waterloo before melting into thin air.
The assailants were said to be renegades and ex-servicemen dissatisfied with the economic crunch, and see no future for themselves with the best way being to take up arms against state authorities. They are battle-tested and combat ready at all times. Reports state that the attackers had wanted to take back their freedom since the ballot box had failed them.
Hard core criminals held at the Prison facility have also joined the attackers to strike when the people fall into slumber, but residents have decided to stay awake throughout the day and even at night. At the moment, there will be little parting and beach-going although the curfew has been lifted.
November-26 attacks plunged Freetown residents as well as government officials into an unimagined danger as no one knows when the attackers would come again, and if they strike again, what will be their mission this time, a question that has left many doubt and wonder.
Many Freetown fear to trek to the countryside owing to harassment and intimidation at several checkpoints manned by the security forces. The road blocks are many to cross and Freetown residents prefer staying in their communities to travelling to the provinces where their safety is at stake.
The principal law enforcement agency, the Sierra Leone Police have assured that the public that they are on top of situation as they will release public safety regulations to keep the people safe in the low-key Christmas.
Coming once every year, Christmas used to be one of the most celebrated occasions in the country with joy and fanfare usually seen on the eve. It is a time for healing old wounds among families and friends and making new friendships which usually end up into marriages.
Those who have gone away for too long from their friends, brothers and sisters have the opportunity to meet again, sit and dine together and narrates varied accounts and experiences.
In the urban centres, one can see carols and masquerades on the streets with the sounds of Christmas jingles beating in every corner. Gifts are often exchanged with the have-nots on the receiving end and is merry all over the place.
The villages too have a slice of their own in the Christmas festivities seen in football gala (competitions) in which several football teams take part to clinch the trophies.
Sierra Leoneans, thousands of miles away from home will jet in to share love, fun and joy as they meet with friends and loved ones they have left for years.
Although ICTs have eased communication and contact between diasporans and Sierra Leoneans back home, physical presence and contact cannot be replaced by electronic communication.
Sierra Leoneans here also stand to reap as the diasporans especially those from the United States could not take back all their assets.
The camaraderie has been lost as only few Sierra Leoneans abroad have jetted in especially those in favour of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party. A look at recent past shows that no Christmas has been celebrated on a grand style in Sierra Leone since April, 2018 when President Bio took over state governance.
Even the 2018 December, the first under Bio’s rule was a mere semblance of a Christmas as celebration and joy was suppressed to maintain the country’s decorum throughout the period and it was also the same for other occasions that followed in subsequent years.
Other holidays in which the people should have celebrated and expressed joy also succumbed to similar fate including the most celebrated Independence Day in which lantern parades and competitions are held in Freetown and patronised by eminent Sierra Leoneans including ministers and Presidents.
Independence Day which comes on 27th April, 1961 is important and symbolic as it is the day Sierra Leone gains freedom external control from the former colonial power, Britain. The fanfare, pump and pageantry often seen in Freetown on the day in question has evaporated the day Bio and his team came to power.
No Sierra Leonean ever see such joy again and the Cotton Tree which used to host the parade has reached its end. It is now a lonely place, and hope of seeing one will run into decades. A heavy storm hit the Tree bringing about several interpretations about a tragedy that awaits Sierra Leone.
The adage ‘coming events cast their shadows is very much in line with SLPP’s election victory in April, 2018 when government officials arbitrarily imposed a curfew overnight in the guise of a cleaning day which has been long forgotten. The cleaning period which was supposed to last at 12 midday was shifted to 4pm stopping marriages and other occasions that should have taken place on that day.
Overnight, SLPP-linked thugs constituted into vigilantes parading on the streets of Freetown in the guise of retrieving what they referred to as “stolen government vehicles.”
This function which should have been better left in the hands of the police was carried out by disorganised bands of civilians unleashing violence to past government officials who had served this country loyally and in good faith. Even a judge who was mistaken for a former minister faced the wrath of the marauders who forced him out of the vehicle which was taken away.
The premises of former President Ernest Koroma’s daughter was also raided for government vehicles and other government officials also killed in the process.
As if that was not enough, such secret societies as ‘Poro’ Ojeh, Hunting, Mathorma were banned from processing on the streets let alone holding initiation rites, a move that sent the country into state of melancholy ever dreamed of, and the sadness still continued to this day with the coming Christmas not an exception.