Prominent legal advocate and President of the Lawyers’ Society, Augustine Sorie-Sengbe Marrah, has called on First Lady Fatima Bio to lead a mass protest in Freetown against the country’s worsening electricity crisis.

In an open letter addressed to the First Lady, Marrah referenced her recent involvement in a protest in Koidu, where she advocated for workers’ rights. He urged her to extend the same activism to the ongoing electricity shortages affecting citizens across Sierra Leone.

“Maybe it’s time to lead a million-man protest in Freetown against the dismal state of electricity supply nationwide. You did it recently in Koidu for the rights of workers. You can do it too in Freetown for all of us,” Marrah wrote.

His statement also highlighted concerns over restrictions on public demonstrations, recalling the recent detention of individuals who attempted to seek police clearance for a protest. However, he suggested that the First Lady’s status could allow her to mobilize a demonstration without facing such obstacles.

“The police can’t give anyone permission to protest but you. The last time some of my friends even thought about asking for a permit to protest, they were locked up for 10 days. But you’re the mother of our nation, and the obligation to seek police clearance does not apply to you—God forbid!” he added.

Marrah’s appeal comes amid growing frustration over erratic power supply in the capital and other parts of the country, with many citizens struggling to cope with frequent blackouts. His statement resonates with calls for urgent government intervention to address the crisis.

It remains to be seen whether the First Lady will heed the call to lead such a protest, but Marrah’s statement has added pressure on authorities to address the deepening energy crisis in the country.