By: Francess Sesay
In 2022, a series of protests erupted across Freetown, Makeni, and other parts of Sierra Leone due to the high cost of living. These protests resulted in the deaths of several police officers and numerous civilians.
Abdul Karim Will, Director of Strategic Communication and Spokesperson for the Office of National Security, emphasized the need for authorities to be adequately prepared before any protest. In an exclusive interview with SLIK TV, he mentioned that authorities should be alerted at least two days prior to a protest. He also referenced the Public Order Act, which outlines the right to protest, stating that once a letter is submitted to the police for clearance, there should be coordination with the police to ensure security is provided.
Will explained that a general mapping is conducted for every general election to identify areas needing attention. However, he noted that controlling misinformation on social media remains a challenge for the authorities.
Sally Hancil, whose husband, Sergeant Desmond Hansel, was killed during the protest, recounted the tragic events leading to his death. On the morning of August 10, her husband came home at 10:00 am, took a bath, and mentioned he wasn’t feeling well. After she gave him some medication, he left for work, giving her 200 NLe before departing. While Sally was at the market, she received a call informing her that her husband had been killed by protesters. She later watched a video showing his brutal murder. Sally lamented that the government has done little to support her family since her husband’s death, having received his salary only once.
Abdul Karim Will concluded by stressing the importance of non-violence, noting that the protest ended disastrously and expressing hope that Sierra Leoneans have learned from this experience.
