Is Sierra Leone Becoming a Failing State? A Hard Look at Our Current Reality
By Michael Sesay
Every now and then, a moment comes when we must pause, think deeply, and confront uncomfortable truths. For many Sierra Leoneans, this is one of those moments. The question echoing in conversations across the nation—both openly and silently—is troubling:
Is Sierra Leone becoming a failed state?
From the public sector to the private sector, everyday life increasingly feels like a battle for survival. Systems meant to support the ordinary citizen appear to be collapsing, while those entrusted with responsibility seem far removed from the struggles of the common man.
A Private Sector That Works Against Its Workforce
Across industries, workers continue to suffer under poor working conditions. Companies often underpay staff while demanding more output—longer hours, additional roles, and increased responsibilities—without fair compensation. Instead of promoting growth, innovation, and respect for labour rights, the private sector has become a place where employees sacrifice their wellbeing just to keep their jobs.
A Public Sector Struggling to Deliver
Public services meant to improve citizens’ lives are failing to meet even the most basic expectations. Whether it’s electricity, water, healthcare, or communication services, many Sierra Leoneans feel unprotected, unheard, and underserved.
Civil Society: Champion of the People or Part of the Problem?
Civil society organizations are supposed to be the voice of the voiceless—advocates for fairness, accountability, and justice. But today, public trust in many of these groups is rapidly declining.
Far too often, advocacy seems to depend on personal gain rather than genuine commitment to national progress. When activism becomes transactional, the masses suffer. When organizations meant to defend citizens appear instead to defend institutions or companies, the public is left feeling abandoned.
For example, when poor data services frustrate millions of users, citizens expect civil society to demand explanations, transparency, and improvement—not to shift responsibility onto the people. The quality of a mobile phone should not determine whether network providers fulfill their obligation to deliver reliable service. Instead of dismissing the concerns of the masses, we should be asking harder questions about why communication services remain substandard despite high costs.
Survival Culture: The Root of the Problem
Sierra Leoneans often repeat a painful truth:
“To survive in this country, you must be seen pretending to advocate for the public while secretly fighting for yourself.”
This survival mentality has become deeply rooted in many institutions. When personal survival takes priority over national progress, corruption grows, accountability disappears, and citizens lose trust in the very systems meant to protect them.
Where Do We Go From Here?
The point of raising these issues is not to condemn Sierra Leone, but to spark honest conversations about our future. A state does not fail overnight—it declines slowly, through years of neglect, silence, and mismanagement.
If we want a different Sierra Leone, then we must demand one.
We must hold our systems—public and private—accountable.
We must encourage genuine activism, not self-serving advocacy.
We must recognize that progress begins when citizens refuse to accept mediocrity as the norm.
Sierra Leone still has hope.
But hope alone is not enough.
It requires action, truth, and a collective willingness to push for better.
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