When Justice Depends on Who You Know: The Danger of Elitist Responses to Rape in Sierra Leone

Fatima Babih, EdD
Jun 22
3 min read

By Fatima Babih, EdD

In recent days, Sierra Leoneans have seen two rape cases on social media, one involving an officer in the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces, and the other, the successful conviction of a man in Kenema who raped and wounded a 16-year-old girl. Both cases received swift attention, and in the case of Kenema, justice was served in a record time of only a few weeks.

We are relieved that the accused in Kenema was sentenced to 45 years in prison, and we commend the Magistrate, State Counsel, women’s rights organizations, and local law enforcement for taking decisive action. We are equally concerned for the Army Officer and express profound hope that justice will be served swiftly and fairly in her case. No woman, whether civilian or soldier, should face sexual violence, and every survivor deserves justice.

But we must now ask a painful question: Why is it that only certain rape cases receive swift attention and justice in Sierra Leone?

The Invisible Victims

Girls without connections suffer in silence. As we speak, a now 19-year-old survivor in Bo continues to await justice three years after she was gang raped at age 16 by three men. The Bo High Court has repeatedly adjourned her case. Most recently, it was delayed again because one accused had a minor injury and could not appear in court. Three years. No convictions. No justice. More adjournments.

Unlike the Kenema and the army cases, no elite women advocate for the girl in Bo, there is no media frenzy. No presidential advisers are being briefed about her case, and no NGOs are calling press conferences. She remains invisible, one of countless girls across rural Sierra Leone whose suffering is compounded by poverty and neglect.

We must confront this reality: Rape cases involving girls from low-income families in rural communities are not treated with the same urgency, attention, or outrage as those involving the backing of elite women.

A System That Rewards Proximity to Power

There is a growing and troubling pattern in Sierra Leone where justice appears to depend on proximity to power. Cases move forward when civil society organizations, political appointees, or connected families are involved. But when victims are poor, unknown, or from remote communities, their cases stall, most of the time indefinitely.

This two-tiered approach to justice for rape victims is dangerous. It undermines trust in the judicial system, discourages poor victims from reporting crimes, and sends a chilling message to survivors: Unless you know people in high places, your pain does not matter.

Not a Critique But a Caution

Let us be clear: This is not a critique of the women and organizations that advocate for survivors like the Army Officer and the Kenema victim. Their work is commendable and necessary. However, we must caution you: Elitist advocacy must not become a burden on justice in Sierra Leone.

When justice is hijacked by class, proximity to power, or politics, empowerment does not result. It is exclusion. We cannot claim to be protecting women and girls while abandoning the most vulnerable among them.

A Call for Equity in Justice

Suppose we genuinely want to end sexual violence in Sierra Leone. In that case, we must fight for all survivors, not just those whose stories make headlines and make heroes out of advocates.

We urge:

The Chief Justice of Sierra Leone, Hon. Komba Kamanda, to ensure equal prioritization of all rape cases, regardless of the victim’s social status.
Women’s rights groups and civil society should adopt a justice-for-all strategy, not just one that is justice-by-connection.
The Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs to create a national monitoring system for unresolved child rape cases, especially in rural Sierra Leone.
Donors and partners to fund grassroots justice initiatives that reach unconnected girls in Bo, Moyamba, Koinadugu, and beyond.

Every Girl Deserves Justice

We cannot afford to let elitism fracture our collective response to rape. The girls in our villages, towns, and slums matter just as much as those in military barracks and urban boardrooms. Their pain is real. Their cases are valid. And their rights are non-negotiable.