SLPP , STOP WEAPONIZING THE JUSTICE SYSTEM : FREE ZAINAB SHERIFF NOW — WITHOUT PRECONDITIONS
By Kabs Kanu
The continued detention of popular singer Zainab Sheriff raises serious and troubling questions about the state of democracy in Sierra Leone. Nearly two months after her arrest, following remarks made at a public rally, she remains behind bars—having been denied bail an astonishing eight consecutive times. Reports now suggest she could face a four-year prison sentence.
Let us confront the central issue plainly: what exactly was her crime?
Zainab Sheriff spoke at a political rally, criticized the alleged rigging of the 2023 elections, and warned that the opposition All People’s Congress (APC) would not accept a similar outcome in 2028. These statements, whether agreeable or not, fall squarely within the boundaries of democratic expression.
In any functioning democracy, political speech—especially dissenting speech—is not only tolerated but protected. So, is democracy no longer acceptable in Sierra Leone?
The actions of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) government suggest a deeply worrying answer. What we are witnessing is not the enforcement of justice, but the weaponization of it. The prolonged detention of a civilian over political remarks signals a dangerous shift toward authoritarianism—where criticism is criminalized and opposition voices are silenced.
Even more alarming is the glaring inconsistency in how justice is applied. While Zainab Sheriff languishes in detention, several prominent figures aligned with the SLPP have made statements that are far more inflammatory, yet face no legal consequences.
The First Lady, Fatima Bio, publicly advocated for mob justice against members of the APC. The SLPP Chairman, James Batillo Songa, alongside a Deputy Information Minister, has issued threatening remarks targeting opposition members. Most disturbingly, President Julius Maada Bio himself reportedly warned that SLPP supporters in Bonthe who aligned with the APC would “die in the morning.”
These are not minor statements. They are deeply provocative and, arguably, far more dangerous than anything Zainab Sheriff is accused of saying. Yet, there has been no arrest, no court appearance, and no denial of bail for these individuals.
This is the very definition of selective justice. It reveals a dual system—one law for the ruling elite and another for perceived opponents. Such a system erodes public trust, weakens institutions, and ultimately dismantles the very foundation of democracy. When the judiciary is seen as an extension of political power rather than an independent arbiter, the rule of law collapses into rule by force.
Sierra Leone has come too far, sacrificed too much, to descend into this kind of bush and uncivilized governance. The memories of civil conflict, fueled in part by injustice and exclusion, should serve as a permanent warning—not a forgotten lesson.
The continued detention of Zainab Sheriff is not just about one individual. It is about the soul of the nation. It is about whether Sierra Leone remains a democracy where citizens can speak freely, or becomes a state where fear dictates silence ; where Kamajor justice becomes the order of the day.
The SLPP government must remember that it will not remain in power forever. President Bio must choose his legacy carefully. He does not want to be remembered as the president who destroyed democracy in Sierra Leone.
Frankly, what will the SLPP be remembered for—as a government that upheld democratic values, or one that crushed them under the weight of power? Will it be remembered for nourishing good governance or for promoting bushman and uncivilized politics in Sierra Leone ?
The silence of the international community is very disturbing.
Zainab Sheriff must be released immediately and without preconditions. Anything less is an endorsement of injustice—and a dangerous step toward the complete erosion of democratic norms in Sierra Leone.
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