On Tuesday, March 11, 2025, during an interview at the Parliament Building in Freetown, the Opposition Leader, Hon. Abdul Kargbo, expressed concerns regarding the Counter-Terrorism Act of 2024. He highlighted the risks of misusing the definition of terrorist acts, which include violence against persons, property damage, and other serious offences. Kargboemphasized that without proper exemptions, the law could be used to target opposition groups, protestors, and those voicing dissent against the government.
The Opposition Leader pointed to the 2011 African Union meeting in Malawi, where African countries developed a model counter-terrorism law. He noted that this model included specific exemptions for acts of advocacy, protest, dissent, and industrial actions, which would not be classified as terrorist activities. However, the Sierra Leone governmentโs proposed bill omitted these important exemptions, raising concerns about potential misuse to stifle opposition and limit basic democratic rights.
Kargbo emphasized that the opposition would not support the Counter-Terrorism Act in its current form without the inclusion of these safeguards. He underscored that such laws must stand the test of time and not be used arbitrarily. The oppositionโs position was clear: they were against terrorism but also against any misuse of the law to silence dissent or opposition movements.
The Opposition Leader also noted that the governmentโs refusal to incorporate the exemptions further deepened the oppositionโs concerns about the lawโs potential to be used against political opponents. Despite this, he clarified that the opposition was not against fighting terrorism but was advocating for protections to prevent the law from being weaponized against peaceful dissent.
Kargbo concluded by acknowledging the governmentโs position but affirmed that the oppositionโs role is to ensure that the law is just and does not infringe on the fundamental human rights of Sierra Leoneans. He reassured the public that the opposition would continue to challenge any measures that might misuse the Counter-Terrorism Act to undermine democracy.