An open letter from an Honorary Consul: 'Sierra Leone needs to have a higher regard for human rights and fundamental freedoms'


Hawa Hunt is being held indefinitely in Sierra Leone, as there has been no trial or court appearance since December 2024.  This week, David Pratt, a former defense minister in Canada and the honorary consul of Sierra Leone for over a decade, submitted a letter of resignation in protest to Sierra Leone's High Commissioner to Canada.

In his resignation letter, dated February 19, 2025, the former consul expressed deep concern about the continued detention of Hawa Hunt, a Canadian citizen born in Sierra Leone.


Hawa was jailed for old social media posts criticizing Maada Bio and his wife. Since her arrest, she has not been seen except for a live television appearance, during which she was forced to apologize shortly after her detention. 

According to the Calgary Herald, which reported the honorary consul's resignation in protest, multiple bail requests have been denied. 

Last week, Dutch journalist Sophie van Leeuwen was also detained briefly in Sierra Leone while she was doing a story on a notorious drug lord fugitive from the Netherlands who is married to Maada Bio's daughter. Sierra Leone authorities deleted all data from van Leeuwen's computer and mobile phone.

Under Maada Bio's regime, human rights and freedoms, including freedom of speech, are little considered.




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