EDSA TURNS “ENEMY OF THE STATE’’
…Blackouts, Destructive Fires
By Ibrahim Alusine Kamara(Kamalo)
In a nation already grappling with economic strain and public distrust, the relentless blackouts sweeping across Sierra Leone have ignited more than just candles—they’ve sparked fury, suspicion, and now, flames.
Once seen as a symbol of energy hope, the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA) is now at the centre of growing public outrage. Daily power cuts have not only disrupted homes and businesses but are now being linked to a troubling rise in electrical fires, leaving destruction in their wake and citizens asking: has EDSA become an enemy of the very people it was created to serve?
Blackouts Without Warning
Across Freetown and other major towns, residents report enduring up to 18 hours a day without electricity. The pattern has become disturbingly familiar—lights flicker, power dies, and with it, livelihoods. Students are left in darkness, hospitals rely on overstretched generators, and small businesses hemorrhage money daily.
EDSA’s explanations have varied—from fuel shortages to technical faults—but for the average Sierra Leonean, it’s all starting to sound like empty excuses. Calls for transparency have grown louder, but answers remain scarce.
From Blackouts to Blazes
Perhaps even more disturbing is the surge in fire outbreaks linked to unstable power surges and faulty lines. In the last two months alone, several major fires have been reported, including in densely populated communities where faulty reconnections and unregulated wiring are common.
“I lost everything,” said Mariatu Koroma, a petty trader at the Congo Market, whose shop was engulfed in a fire allegedly sparked by a sudden power return. “When we needed electricity, it was gone. When it came, it destroyed us.”
A Crisis of Confidence
Public sentiment has shifted from frustration to fury. Social media is flooded with hashtags like #EDSAFail and #LightUpSalone, as citizens demand answers and action. Civil society groups have started petitioning for a complete audit of EDSA’s operations, while others are calling for a total overhaul of the energy sector.
“It’s not just about electricity anymore,” said Ibrahim Sesay, an energy policy analyst. “It’s about accountability. People feel abandoned by a system that’s supposed to serve them.”
Where is the Government?
So far, government response has been muted, with promises of future reforms and long-term investments doing little to quell the current anger. As the rains approach—bringing with them the added risk of electrical hazards—many fear the worst is yet to come.
With blackouts becoming a symbol of state dysfunction and fires adding literal fuel to public anger, EDSA stands dangerously close to losing all credibility. What was meant to power the nation is now seen by many as a threat to it.
Unless swift, transparent, and meaningful reforms are undertaken, the question may no longer be if EDSA has failed—but how much more damage will be done before it is fixed.