When a Woman Speaks Truth to Power: Misogyny Behind Attacks on Me for Criticizing Sierra Leone’s First Lady

Fatima Babih, EdD

As I continue to be vocal about the corruption and unchecked power of Sierra Leone’s First Lady Fatima Jabbie Bio, the attacks against me have unveiled a deeper malady in Sierra Leonean society. It’s not just a crisis in governance, but a reflection of how a chronically patriarchal Sierra Leonean society mistreats women who dare to speak out in public discourse.

Gendered Double Standard

Recently, a male podcaster on SN Radio, Triple A, in describing me said in Krio, “ihn nor for yeri bot de fos lady,” which I translate as “hate” for everything I hear about the First Lady. This is not a critique; it’s a projection. He has never said such a thing about the many male analysts who are equally, if not more, critical of the President himself. The insinuation is clear: a woman can’t possibly critique another woman in power without it being rooted in jealousy, bitterness, or hate.

One Rodney Michael, @superrod001 on X, another well-known public commentator, went even further, dismissing my criticism of the First Lady as a personal issue I have with Fatima Bio. But here’s the truth: I have never had any personal interaction with Fatima Bio, online or in person. His statement is not only false; it’s a deliberate attempt to minimize my arguments by painting them as emotional or petty, a tactic routinely used against women to avoid engaging with the substance of what we say.

No one accuses male critics of being “jealous” of the President or his ministers. But when I, a woman, critique the First Lady, I’m suddenly insecure, envious, or emotionally unstable. This is a lazy and gendered attack meant to delegitimize women’s intellect and invalidate our perspectives in public discourse.

Tribal Identity Politics

Even worse are the tribalist insults masquerading as political analysis. In a recent Facebook exchange, a Member of Sierra Leone Parliament, Sahr Charles, who doubles openly as an online defender of the First Lady, suggested I had no right to speak on the Koidu Holdings crisis because I had no connection to Kono. He said this despite knowing I am from Kono. He really meant that I’m not of the Kono tribe, as he is.

This tribal gatekeeping is not only offensive but also dangerous. It reduces civic discourse to tribal identity and attempts to silence those who do not conform to narrow definitions of belonging.

Weaponizing My Heritage

As if being a woman and not belonging to the “right tribe” weren’t enough, my dual heritage is now used against me. Though I was born and raised in Sierra Leone, to a Sierra Leonean mother, my father is Mauritanian. To the narrow-minded supporters of Fatima Bio, that should disqualify me from participating in the national discourse, and Fatima Bio’s defenders use my surname as ammunition.

One YouTube commenter, @peterdauda3351, wrote,

This Babhi Mauritanian woman should please leave our First Lady alone. Let me remind her that Sierra Leone is not Mauritania.

Misspelled name, xenophobic jab, and tribal dismissal, all in one comment. Would he have said that if my last name matched one from his tribe? Probably not.

Why Most Women Stay Silent

When you look at Sierra Leone’s public discourse today, especially around corruption and governance, 90%+ of outspoken voices are male.

Why?

When a woman speaks up in Sierra Leone, she is never challenged on her ideas but attacked on her womanhood. She’s insulted, sexualized, tribalized, and othered.

Therefore, many intelligent women choose silence. They choose self-preservation.

And who can blame them?

But I will not be silent. Despite the personal attacks and attempts to discredit me, I remain committed to speaking out. I understand the risks, but I believe that the truth must be told, and the actions of those in power must be held to account.

Why I Write About Fatima Bio

To those still asking why I focus on Fatima Bio, let me repeat this: We have never had a First Lady so consumed by First Lady Syndrome.

First Lady Syndrome refers to a situation in which a ruler’s wife is bent on exercising excessive influence, engages in political overreach, and behaves as though she is an unelected co-ruler, often without accountability.

First Lady Syndrome reflects a misuse of soft power that distorts constitutional norms, sidelines and renders legitimate institutions ineffective. In the case of Sierra Leone, this syndrome is particularly concerning as it undermines the democratic process and the balance of power.

Sierra Leoneans have witnessed these First Lady Syndrome behaviors and actions in Fatima Bio over the past seven years. She behaves like a second president in the country, wielding power unchecked, inserting herself into state matters, and doing so while drenched in privilege and impunity. Never in our history has a First Lady of Sierra Leone been so deeply entangled in political and financial corruption.

I write about her because it is my duty as a citizen, a woman, and a chronicler of truth to ensure that her unchecked actions are documented.

To Misogynists & Tribalists

To those who believe I should sit down and be quiet, I won’t.

To those who say I should be grateful to “belong” in Sierra Leone: I’m already a proud Sierra Maur (Sierra Leonean Mauritanian).

And to those who think my voice will break under pressure, I’ve just started.

I am not here for your approval. I am here for truth, for justice and for history.

My commitment to these principles is unwavering. One day, when our daughters look back at this era, they will see that one woman refused to be shamed into silence and she told the truth about a corrupt woman, even though it was unpopular.

A luta continua!