Black Monday Pictures: Sierra Leoneans Mourn the Death of Economic Stability & Civil Liberties
By Abu Shaw in London (23/11/2021)
Yesterday was a historic day in Sierra Leone when citizens wore black clothes to mourn the death of the economy, human rights, and civil liberties, etc.
President Julius Maada Bio’s failed SLPP government is noted for undemocratic governance since he occupied State House on April 4, 2018. The living conditions of the majority of Sierra Leoneans have deteriorated to the point of becoming beggars due to the bastardisation of the country’s economy, rampant corruption in the corridors of power, the dissipation of civil liberties, the non-existent of human rights, no free expression and criticisms not tolerated without facing police brutality and other negative policies under President Bio. (Photo: Black Monday yesterday organised by COPPP)).
Not to mention the blatant disregard for human lives. The massacre in Pademba Road Prison in 2020 when armed Presidential Guards stormed the prison and shot to death over hundred inmates including a prison officer is one case in point. The Makeni massacre in 2020 is another example when many peaceful protesters, mostly youths were gunned down by State Security on the orders of the Resident Minister North Abu Abu Koroma. Not to mention the Lunsar killings, the Tombo murders, the Thonko Limba killings, the Mile 91 murders. (Photos: Freetown City Mayor Aki-Sawyerr, centre, and colleagues in black. And the former President Ernest Bai Koroma in black).
(Photos: COPPP in black including the NGC Chairman Dr Dennis Bright, left, the APC politician Karamo Kabba in the cap, second picture).
Despite all the violence and murders of innocent citizens, President Bio’s violent government has paid deaf ears, no investigations have been launched to give justice to the victims. Nothing! Zilch! The tribalisation of state institutions, the nepotistic style of the SLPP governance, etc, have created disunity and threat to national peace and cohesion never seen in Sierra Leone’s history. Citizens are even more perturbed by the rife thieving of public finances at State House, in the Office of the President, in the Office of the First Lady Fatima Jabbe Bio, in the Office of the Chief Minister, and other government ministries. (Photos: Dr Samura Kamara, APC in black, and Dr Kandeh Yumkella, NGC right, in black yesterday).
Adding insult to injury, most of the internal stakeholders including the majority of the Civil Society Organisations CSOs, the religious bodies, the Sierra Leone Association of Journalist SLAJ, the media plus Umaru Fofana of the BBC, the police, the military, and many others have all compromised their independence and integrity for a pittance. They are all in the pockets and skirts of corrupt politicians. As a result, they continue to keep silent on the vices being perpetrated by the government on innocent citizens. “The failure of these stakeholders to stand up and be counted against tyranny and barbarism has only escalated the suffering of the people in Sierra Leone. A sad state of affairs indeed,” a keen political observer noted.
No accountability so far under President Bio’s corrupt regime. Amid this national chaos, the Consortium of Progressive Political Parties COPPP, consisting of thirteen political parties in Sierra Leone, decided to declare yesterday as Black Monday. COPPP urged all Sierra Leoneans to wear black in order to mourn peacefully for the horrible situation people are facing under President Bio’s inept regime. It was a success as political leaders and ordinary Sierra Leoneans wore their black clothes as a consequence. Brave to the patriots. Sources say more Black Mondays are underway.
(Photos: Citizens in black clothes and ex-President Ernest Koroma, centre, others pose in black).
(Photos: Freetown Mayor Mrs Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr in black and Dr Samura Kamara, right, wearing black in protest).
