No Citizen Should Be Beaten into Silence: Sierra Leone Deserves Justice, Not Brutality – July 01, 2026 Press Statement

The Sierra Leone Advocacy Movement-Global (SLAM-GLOBAL) expresses profound alarm over a disturbing video circulating on social media that appears to show civilians being subjected to a brutal beating by individuals alleged to be members of the security forces. (Photo: Bio and his brutal Army Chief of Staff Lt Col Idara Bangura).

While the authenticity of the video and the identities of those involved must be independently verified, the footage is deeply troubling and demands an urgent, impartial, and transparent investigation. If this video is genuine, it is not merely an assault on two individuals-it is an assault on the Constitution of Sierra Leone, the rule of law, and the dignity of every Sierra Leonean.

No government, no soldier, no police officer, and no public official has the legal or moral authority to replace the courts with sticks, boots, or bullets. Justice belongs in the courtroom, not in the streets. For far too long, Sierra Leoneans have witnessed a painful pattern in which allegations of excessive force, political intimidation, economic hardship, and unresolved questions surrounding democratic governance have steadily eroded public confidence.

Family’s struggle under crushing poverty. Young people search desperately for jobs. Citizens continue to seek greater transparency and accountability in public affairs. Against this backdrop, any credible allegation of unlawful violence by state actors deepens national wounds rather than healing them. A nation cannot build peace while fear walks its streets. A nation cannot demand respect for the law while ignoring allegations that the law has been violated by those entrusted to uphold it.

A nation cannot ask its people to trust institutions that fail to protect the weak from the powerful. The greatness of a democracy is not measured by how it treats the influential. It is measured by how it treats the powerless, the accused, the poor, and those who have no voice. SLAM-GLOBAL therefore calls for:

• An immediate independent investigation into the video to determine its authenticity, identify those involved, and establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
• The preservation of all evidence, including the original footage, witness statements, and medical examinations, where appropriate.
• Full accountability for any individual found to have acted unlawfully, regardless of rank or position.
• Protection for witnesses and victims against intimidation or retaliation.
• Renewed commitment to constitutional governance, due process, and the protection of every citizen’s fundamental rights.

This moment must become more than another viral video. It must become a turning point. To the soldiers and security officers who faithfully serve Sierra Leone with professionalism and honor, we acknowledge your sacrifice and your duty to protect our nation. Upholding the law strengthens your institution; unlawful violence diminishes it. To the people of Sierra Leone, never lose faith in the enduring power of truth. Justice delayed must never become abandoned.

Every citizen deserves dignity. Every family deserves security. Every child deserves to grow up believing that the law protects rather than persecutes. History will not remember how loudly governments defended themselves. It will remember how faithfully they defended their people. Our Sierra Leone is stronger than fear. Our Constitution is stronger than violence. Our future must be stronger than injustice. Truth. Justice. Accountability. National Renewal.

P.S. We invite you to explore our recently published analysis in a book, “Building a Nation: Good Governance and Democratic Principles in Sierra Leone.” As we unite for change in 2026, this resource provides valuable insights for activists, policymakers, and concerned citizens committed to Sierra Leone’s transformation. (Photo: SLAM-Global Director General Dr Fullah).

Signed, Dr. Alfred A. Veenod Fullah DIRECTOR-GENERAL

CC:

Office of the President of Sierra Leone

• Office of the Vice President of Sierra Leone
• Secretariat of the All People’s Congress Party 2
• Speaker of the Sierra Leone House of Parliament
• Office of the Chief Minister of the Government of Sierra Leone
• Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL)
• Inspector General of Sierra Leone Police
• Chief of Defence Staff, Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF)
• Office of National Security, Sierra Leone
• Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion
• Leonardo Santos Simao, Representative of the Secretary-General & Head of UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS)
• African Union (AU)
• Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
• Amnesty International
• Marco Rubio, United States Secretary of State
• Vice President, Congressional and Public Affairs
• The Commonwealth Secretary-General
• Karim Ahmad Khan, Chief Prosecutor, International Criminal Court (ICC)
• Richard YOUNG, Chief de Division, Afrique de l’Ouest
• Ms. Ursula Von Der Lyen, European Commissioner
• The United Nations Representative in Sierra Leone
• H. E. Oumar Touray, President of ECOWAS Commission
• Madam Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang, former VP of The Gambia
• H.E John Dramani Mahama, President of Ghana
• H. E. Bassiru Faye, President of Senegal
• H.E. Mamadi Doumbouya, President of Guinea
• H.E. Joseph Boakai, President of Liberia
• David Lammy, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth & Dev Affairs, UK
• Neil Alan John Coyle, MP for Bermondsey & Old Southwark, UK
• Ambassador Aly Diallo, Ambassador of the Republic of Guinea to the UK&I
• Ambassador Mohammad Maidugu, Acting High Commissioner of Nigeria in the UK&I
• Her Excellency Dr Fatou Bensouda, Head of Mission, The Gambia high Commission, UK&I
• H.E Fatimata Dia, Ambassador of Senegal to the UK&I
• H.E Gurly T. Gibson-Schwarz, Ambassador of Liberia to the UK&I
• Her Excellency Josephine Gauld, British High Commissioner to Sierra Leone
• Ambassador of the United States of America to Sierra Leone
• Head of the European Union Delegation in Sierra Leone
• General Consul of Canada in Sierra Leone
• Ambassador of China to Sierra Leone
• Ambassador of Germany to Sierra Leone
• Ambassador of Lebanon to Sierra Leone
• Ambassador of Iran to Sierra Leone
• Ambassador of Brazil to Sierra Leone
• Ambassador of Sweden to Sierra Leone
• Ambassador of Libya to Sierra Leone
• Ambassador of Egypt to Sierra Leone
• Ambassador of Cuba to Sierra Leone
• Ambassador of Guinea to Sierra Leone
• Ambassador of Liberia to Sierra Leone
• High Commissioner of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Sierra Leone
• High Commissioner of Ghana to Sierra Leone
• High Commissioner of The Gambia to Sierra Leone
• General Consul of Italy in Sierra Leone
• Honorary Consul-General of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in Sierra Leone
• Honorary Consul-General of Ireland in Sierra Leone
• Honorary Consul-General of Japan in Sierra Leone
• Honorary Consul-General of India to Sierra Leone
• Honorary Consul of Senegal in Sierra Leone
• Honorary Consul of Switzerland in Sierra Leone
• Honorary Consul of Syria in Sierra Leone
• Honorary Consul of Turkey in Sierra Leone
• Honorary Consul of Mali in Sierra Leone
• Honorary Consul of Ukraine in Sierra Leone
• Honorary Consul of Romania in Sierra Leone
• Honorary Consul of Norway in Sierra Leone
• Honorary Consul of Hungary in Sierra Leone
• Honorary Consul of France in Sierra Leone
• Honorary Consul of Belgium in Sierra Leone
• Honorary Consul of The Netherlands in Sierra Leone
• Honorary Consul of Spain in Sierra Leone
• Honorary Consul of Serbia in Sierra Leone
• Honorary Consul of Austria in Sierra Leone
• Honorary Consul of Denmark in Sierra Leone Honorary Consul of Russia in Sierra Leone
• Honorary Consul of Malaysia in Sierra Leone
• Honorary Consul of South Africa in Sierra Leone
• Civil Society Movement – Sierra Leone (CSM – SL)
• Media Reform Coordinating Group of Sierra Leone (MRCG)
• Sierra Leone Association of Non-Governmental Organizations (SLANGO)
• Civil rights Defenders – Sierra Leone
• National Elections Watch (NEW) – Sierra Leone
• Campaign for Good Governance (CGG) – Sierra Leone
• Women’s Forum – Sierra Leone
• Network Movement for Justice and Development (NMJD)
• Sierra Leone Legal Aid Board
• Faith-Based and Interfaith Organizations – (Interreligious Council of Sierra Leone)
• Council of Churches in Sierra Leone (CCSL)
• Fourah Bay College – University of Sierra Leone
• Institute of Governance Reform (IGR)
• Youth Partnership for Peace and Development (YPPD)
• Children’s Forum Network
• Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) – Sierra Leone
• Awoko Newspaper – Sierra Leone
• Liberty TV Online – Sierra Leone
• Radio Democracy 98.1 FM Station – Sierra Leone
• The New York Times
• The Washington Post
• The USA Today
• The Cable News Network (CNN)
• The MicroSoft National Broadcast Corporation (MSNBC) The Fox News
• The Associated Press
• Thomson Reuters
• The National Public Radio (NPR)
• The Brookings Institution
• The Heritage Foundation
• The Center For American Progress
• The National Association For The Advancement Of Colored People (NAACP)
• The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
• The MoveOn
• The Democratic National Committee
• The Republican National Committee
• The EMILY’s List
• The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
• The Sky News
• Al Jazeera
• The Independent Television (ITV)
• The Times
• The Financial Times
• The Guardian
• The Daily Telegraph

SLAM-Global Motto: Trust, Unity and Social Justice Email: advocacy1@slam-global.org.uk Mobile: UK – +447725982424/+447564115946 EU – +46734836874/+34676768005 US – 01732-619-9510/01608-772-3917