By Sulaiman Aruna Sesay
Sierra Leone’s political landscape has long been characterized by division and strife. The ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) and the opposition All People’s Congress (APC) have often been at each other’s throats, with their supporters frequently clashing in the streets.
In a surprising turn of events, the two parties have recently come together in a bid to combat the rise of hate speech and promote peaceful political discourse in Sierra Leone.
On Tuesday 3 June, 2024, the two political giants issued out a joint press release titled “SLPP and APC unite to fight hate speech and promote peaceful political discourse”. They acknowledged that hate speech has become a major problem in Sierra Leone, fuelling tensions and undermining the country’s democratic processes.
While this move towards unity is a step in the right direction, there are questions to be asked about why these two parties have often been responsible for promoting hateful rhetoric in the first place. Both the SLPP and APC have been accused of using inflammatory language to rally their supporters. This has often taken the form of tribalism, with politicians playing on ethnic divisions to galvanize their base.
For instance, during the elections campaign, the SLPP portrayed its presidential candidate as a defender of the Mende ethnic group, while the APC was accused of playing up its Temne roots in a bid to win support from that community. These tactics may be effective in mobilizing supporters, but they also deepen divisions and create animosity between different groups. In a country as ethnically diverse as Sierra Leone, this can be a recipe for disaster.
It is therefore important to question whether the SLPP and APC are truly committed to combating hate speech, or whether this is simply a strategic move to improve their image in the eyes of the international community. Playing the devil’s advocate, one could argue that these parties have little incentive to truly root out hate speech, as it has served them well in the past. By stoking ethnic tensions, they have been able to drum up support and win elections.
Even if the SLPP and APC are serious about tackling hate speech, it remains to be seen whether their supporters will follow suit. Many of these supporters have been indoctrinated with divisive rhetoric for years, making it difficult to change their mind-set overnight.
While the SLPP and APC’s efforts to combat hate speech are commendable, it is important to be critical of their motives and track record. The only way to truly break down the walls of division in Sierra Leone is to go beyond rhetoric and address the root causes of tribalism and other forms of prejudice.
