By Fatima Babih, EdD
The scourge of gender-based violence (GBV) and cyberbullying against women in Sierra Leone took a sinister turn recently when a message laden with threats of physical harm surfaced on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). The shocking part? This threatening message was authored by none other than a current member of Julius Maada Bio’s Paopa regime, Ibrahim Nyelenkeh, the current Chairman of the National Sports Authority (NSA) of Sierra Leone, who also served as the Minister of Sports.
Nyelenkeh’s message was directed at a prominent Sierra Leonean woman, opposition leader Dr. Olufemi Claudius-Cole, popularly known as Femi Claudius Cole. She is the first Sierra Leonean woman to form a political party (the Unity Party) and the first woman to run for President in Sierra Leone. She remains the only woman leading a political party in this chronically patriarchal country.
Nyelenkeh’s message, brazen in tone and violent in content, declared, We will burn you alive, alongside derogatory verbiage that was meant to demean the recipient further. This cyberbullying against Dr. Claudius-Cole is not an isolated incident but a glaring example of a growing trend in Sierra Leone where women, especially those who dare to step into political and public spheres, are targeted, harassed, and silenced by people in positions of power, especially in the current regime of Julius Maada Bio.
Gender-based violence continues to be used as a tool of suppression against women in Sierra Leone. The country remains one of the most fragile states globally, battling endemic poverty, corruption, and weak governance. Against this backdrop, such behavior from a high-ranking government official sets a dangerous precedent. When those in power resort to violent language and threats against women, it sends a message to society that this behavior is permissible, if not encouraged. Women, already marginalized in public and political spaces, face even more significant barriers when threats of violence hang over their participation.
Cyberbullying is the Bio regime’s weapon against women’s voices. Globally, the rise of digital platforms has amplified women’s voices, allowing them to challenge patriarchal norms and advocate for change. However, for Sierra Leonean women, these same platforms have become battlegrounds for cyberbullying and online harassment by government operatives. The message in question is emblematic of this problem. For women in Sierra Leone, such public threats are intended to humiliate, intimidate, and deter them from engaging in political activism or speaking truth to power.
Nyelenkeh and other Bio regime officials’ threatening behaviors have broader implications in a country already ranked among the most fragile states. The normalization of threats and violence by public officials erodes public trust in governance, weakens the rule of law, and exacerbates societal tensions. It also fosters a culture of impunity, where individuals who are politically connected feel emboldened to act violently toward women, knowing there will be no consequences for their actions.
For Sierra Leone, a nation still mending the scars of war, the escalation of violent rhetoric, especially by members of the current regime, including Julius Maada Bio, his wife, and several of his cabinet ministers, poses a significant risk to peace and stability in the country. Women, who bear the brunt of conflict and instability, are disproportionately affected when societal tensions boil over.
This violent cyberbullying against a woman whose only crime is speaking up must be called out and condemned in the strongest possible terms. Silence in the face of such threats against women is complicity. The international community, civil society organizations, and all citizens of Sierra Leone must unite to demand accountability for such loathsome behavior by officials whose lucrative salaries are paid for by taxpayers.
Julius Maada Bio’s government, as usual, has not publicly condemned Nyelenkeh’s attack, and of course, no disciplinary action has been or will be taken against him. Sadly, the people in so-called leadership positions currently in Sierra Leone are more focused on abusing the power that comes with their prestigious high-salary positions by engaging in violent rhetoric and intimidation; they take no responsibility to model behavior that promotes respect and inclusion in society.
Threats against women, especially by those in positions of power, are unacceptable and must be treated as a direct attack on the principles of democracy, equality, and human rights. This is not just about one individual or one message—it is about dismantling a culture that normalizes violence against women.
We must collectively demand that those in power are held accountable for their actions and words. Sierra Leone cannot afford to ignore the voices of its women, or the threats made against them. Only through unity, justice, and accountability can the nation move toward a more equitable and peaceful future.
References
Sierra Leone’s new sports minister hopes to restore peace in country’s FA 20 May 2018
President Bio Appoints Ex-Sports Minister Ibrahim Nyelenkeh as NSA Chairman
MAMA SALONE ~ Lioness of the West Coast 