Wanted for Political Incitement: Sierra Leonean Youth Speaks from Exile

by Tommy Scott

For 25-year-old Mohamed Suma, peaceful political activism became a fight for survival. Today, he lives in exile in Columbus, Ohio, far from his home in Sierra Leone, yet still haunted by the trauma of persecution.

In a quiet apartment in the American Midwest, Suma recounted to The Town Crier how political intimidation, imprisonment, and fear forced him to flee the country he once proudly served.

“I never imagined I would one day become a refugee,” he said. “I believed in democracy, in the right to speak freely and help build a better Sierra Leone. But that all changed when my government turned against me.”

Suma’s troubles began in 2017 when he became active in the youth wing of the All People’s Congress (APC) during a tense pre-election period. His crime, he says, was promoting civic education and encouraging peaceful political participation.

But following the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) victory in 2018, things took a darker turn.

“People saw me educating youth and accused me of stirring trouble. My name was even mentioned in the House of Parliament. All I did was speak the truth.”

In 2021, Suma was arrested during a police raid at his home. Officers confiscated his phone, which contained messages critical of government actions. He was detained for nearly three months without trial, without bail, and without due process.

“The prison cell was filthy and overcrowded. We were fed rice and water maybe once or twice a day,” he recalled. “Many of us were just young men who had dared to speak out.”

He was eventually charged with a “treasonable offense” for attending a peaceful protest. Efforts by his family to secure his release proved futile until chaos erupted during a violent prison attack in April 2022.

“Bullets were flying. The prison was burning. Some inmates were killed. I saw an opening and ran. That escape saved my life.”

Even outside prison, Suma was not safe. His family in Freetown was targeted; his mother stopped selling at the market due to public abuse. And despite being in hiding, he was blamed for the protests in Makeni in August 2022.

“I wasn’t even there, but they said I had incited the violence.”

He took refuge with Evangelist Samson, a prominent government critic. But when Samson was found dead under suspicious circumstances, Suma understood the risk of staying silent—or staying at all.

“After Samson’s death, I knew I had no future in Sierra Leone. A senior APC member helped me escape through Guinea and Ecuador, all the way to the United States. I’m lucky to be alive.”

Now living in legal limbo while his asylum application is under review, Suma is trying to rebuild. But the trauma remains.

“If I go back, I’ll be arrested or worse. But I know I can’t be silent. Too many young people are suffering in silence. I want to be their voice.”

According to reports, Suma is believed to be on a government watchlist for allegedly inciting political unrest. Sierra Leonean authorities have reportedly circulated informal alerts regarding his whereabouts, with claims that he should be reported to police if seen.

Mohamed’s story is one of many in a country where political dissent often comes at a high price. As he continues his new life in exile, he holds on to hope.

“I love my country. But right now, I cannot go home. I pray for the day I can.”