Women are dealing with a lot in Sierra Leone's harsh political environment


This Christmas season, Sierra Leone witnessed another unsettling situation involving its president, who took the controversial step of ordering the arrest of a pop culture icon. 

Known for her vibrant presence, Hawa Hunt was detained on live television over alleged libel associated with a statement made public years ago.

Just days after her arrest, Hawa appeared on camera expressing regret. She emphasized her intent to channel her energies into mental health services, imploring her supporters to rally behind her vision.

This situation echoes a similar incident from four Christmases ago when another popular cultural figure was under scrutiny from the administration.


Police surrounded Sylvia Blyden's residence with overwhelming force in response to a social media post she made years prior.

Blyden faced multiple arrests until she relented and apologized for her comments regarding Julius Maada Bio's military promotions.

Even after this apology, reports suggested that armed individuals treated her home as a site of conflict.

In October 2021, Lahai Lawrence Leema, onetime deputy minister of internal affairs, launched a furious rant directed at Marcella Samba Sesay during an interview on Africa Young Voices (AYV) television.


Marcella, a former executive director of the Campaign for Good Governance (CGG) and chair of the New Elections Watch, found herself under personal attack rather than having previous concerns over election fraud and violence addressed.

One observer highlighted on social media the alarming level of political intimidation that women endure daily, reinforcing the notion that this troubling trend persists.

In July 2022, Feminists, United Sierra Leone, and Allies voiced their concerns regarding the arrest of leaders from opposition political parties.

Among those apprehended was Femi Claudius-Cole, one of the few female presidential aspirants from the 2018 elections.

This unsettling incident unfolded after a significant police presence surrounded her home while she attempted to engage with her supporters via a Facebook live session.

Femi's message resonated with many, as she shared solidarity with the women of Sierra Leone who were feeling the weight of rising costs for essential goods, calling for peaceful protests to address their collective frustrations.

The challenges didn't end there.

In September 2022, the mayor of Freetown, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, was summoned for questioning about alleged "obstruction of police work" and "disorderly behavior."


The lack of clarity around the claims only added to the tension.

On September 17, during her travel to New York for an event associated with the annual UN General Assembly, she streamed a live video detailing the unexpected turn of events involving a city councilor traveling with her.

Following the arrest related to unrest in August, the mayor voiced her frustration, detailing the confrontation with police.

Eyewitness accounts vividly depict the events that transpired, showcasing Aki-Sawyerr's determination to protect her colleague.

Her journey as mayor commenced in 2018 and has been marked by confrontations with authorities. Both the information minister and the presidential press secretary have made unfounded claims linking her to incitement during protests.

In response, Aki-Sawyerr has taken to social media to defend herself and shed light on the implications of these repeated false accusations, which led to personal attacks and threats against city council property.

The stories of individuals like Hawa Hunt, Marcella Samba Sesay, Femi Claudius-Cole, and Aki-Sawyerr exemplify women's challenges in leadership and activism within Sierra Leone's political climate. 

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