The League of Democracy Advocates (LODA) has issued a strongly worded press release condemning the arrest and detention of two civil rights advocates, Thomas Babadi Kamara and Madi Williams, by the Sierra Leone Police.
The arrests, linked to their request for security clearance for a planned peaceful protest scheduled for December 10, 2024, have been labeled by LODA as arbitrary and unconstitutional.
In its release, LODA emphasized that the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone guarantees the right to freedom of assembly under Section 26. Additionally, the Public Order Act of 1965 explicitly protects the right to gathering and procession pursuant to Section 17. These rights, the release noted, are further enshrined in international treaties ratified by Sierra Leone, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
LODA stated that after thoroughly reviewing the detainees’ request letter and the purpose of the planned protest, there is no evidence of criminal intent or any threat to national security.
The protest aims to demand the publication of disaggregated data results from the June 23, 2023, elections, a concern that LODA described as legitimate and within the bounds of democratic discourse.
The advocacy group highlighted that the arrests infringe upon the detainees’ constitutional rights to freedom of speech, movement, and assembly. It called on the Sierra Leone Police to recognize and respect the citizens’ right to peaceful protest, describing the detentions as a direct assault on democratic values.
LODA issued the following demands to the authorities:
The immediate and unconditional release of Thomas Babadi Kamara and Madi Williams
.A public apology from the Sierra Leone Police for what it described as an illegal action.
A firm commitment from the government to respect and uphold the right to peaceful protest and to refrain from arbitrary arrests in the future.
LODA described the arrests as a serious violation of constitutional and human rights, warning that such actions undermine the rule of law and stifle Sierra Leone’s democratic space. It urged the authorities to address the situation urgently, release the detainees, and safeguard the right to peaceful assembly.
The group concluded its release with a call to the Sierra Leonean public to remain vigilant in protecting democratic freedoms, which it described as the cornerstone of national progress.
