By Alpha Amadu Jalloh
The truth is the government is strangling the people, the judiciary has ditched the people, and the people have deserted themselves. Sierra Leone’s political system, built around tribalism, regionalism, and nepotism, is choking the life out of ordinary citizens. Leaders exploit divisions for power, leaving the majority vulnerable, voiceless, and frustrated.
Political power in Sierra Leone is not awarded based on merit or competence; it is distributed according to tribal identity, family connections, and regional loyalty. From government appointments to public contracts, the system rewards favoritism while punishing talent and honesty. Ordinary citizens watch as those in power consolidate wealth and influence, their rights and dignity ignored in the process.
This imbalance is not only political but deeply social. In my book, “Monopoly of Happiness: Unveiling Sierra Leone’s Social Imbalance” , I explore how the promise of fairness is largely an illusion. Tribalism and regionalism are tools to divide citizens, preventing them from challenging inequality, while nepotism ensures that public offices are filled by relatives and cronies rather than qualified individuals. This creates a system in which opportunity is reserved for a few, while the majority of the population remains trapped in poverty and marginalization.
Lenrie Peters’ insights resonate today, as Sierra Leoneans continue to encounter a political and social system that values connections over competence. Political appointments, civil service promotions, and access to resources are still determined by whom you know, not what you can do. Ordinary citizens are left with little recourse, struggling to navigate a system designed to benefit a select few.
Ishmael Beah’s reflections underscore how social, tribal, and regional divides hinder reconciliation and justice, leaving citizens trapped in cycles of frustration and inequality. Sierra Leone’s civil war may have ended, but its political culture remains poisoned by favoritism and division, preventing meaningful recovery. Even decades later, citizens are forced to contend with the consequences of policies and practices that continue to marginalize large segments of the population.
Mohamed Kamara emphasizes that writers must reflect society’s struggles, holding a mirror to the political and social injustices that ordinary citizens endure daily. Literature is a form of resistance and documentation of systemic flaws. When writers highlight the failures of governance and social inequality, they urge citizens to awaken to reality and confront the systems that oppress them.
The judiciary, which should serve as a refuge and protector of rights, often becomes complicit in perpetuating these inequalities. Justice is selective, favoring those with political clout or financial means, while ordinary citizens are left without recourse. The judiciary’s abandonment of fairness sends a chilling message: those without influence are powerless. When citizens witness the law being applied unevenly, their faith in the system erodes, making the struggle for justice even more daunting.
Economic inequality, fueled by favoritism and nepotism, exacerbates social frustration. Small-scale farmers, traders, and workers struggle to survive, while elites profit from development projects. True opportunity is rare, and social mobility remains a privilege of the few. This inequality is visible in education, healthcare, and employment, where access to quality services is often dictated by political connections rather than need or merit.
Consider the education sector, where regional favoritism determines the quality of schooling and scholarships. Children from politically connected families gain access to better schools and opportunities, while talented children from marginalized regions are denied their rightful chance. Healthcare, too, is divided along similar lines, leaving vulnerable populations at the mercy of underfunded hospitals and overworked staff. Citizens experience firsthand how systemic inequality limits their chances for a better life, fueling frustration and resentment.
The political culture thrives on distraction and division. Leaders exploit tribal and regional sentiments to consolidate power, keeping citizens divided and less likely to challenge corruption. Nepotism reinforces this cycle, ensuring loyalty to leaders rather than competence or public service. Meanwhile, the people, exhausted by decades of systemic oppression, withdraw from civic participation, further weakening accountability and allowing injustice to persist.
Yet within this truth lies a critical opportunity. Citizens have the power to unite, challenge the system, and demand a society where merit, justice, and fairness prevail over favoritism, nepotism, and tribalism. Civil society, the media, and citizen movements have roles to play, but individual responsibility is equally crucial. Sierra Leoneans must confront the social and political forces that enable corruption. They must demand transparency in government appointments, insist on equitable access to services, and reject tribal or regional favoritism in favor of national unity.
By confronting the truth and uniting across tribal and regional lines, citizens can reclaim their power. If Sierra Leoneans continue to desert themselves, the social, economic, and political imbalance will only deepen. But if they face reality, reject division, and insist on justice, the monopoly on happiness and opportunity that has enriched a few while impoverishing the many can be broken.
Change will not come from outside; it will come when the people reclaim their rights, demand accountability, and refuse to accept inequality as inevitable. Sierra Leone belongs to all its citizens, not just a privileged few. Leaders must be held accountable, institutions must serve justice, and the people must refuse to be complicit in the inequalities that have long defined the nation.
By confronting the truth, uniting across tribal and regional lines, and demanding meritocracy, Sierra Leoneans can reclaim their country and break the monopoly on happiness that has long enriched a few while leaving the majority behind. Justice, fairness, and opportunity are not luxuries, they are rights. And it is only when these rights are demanded and defended that Sierra Leone can truly move forward as a nation.
The truth is harsh, but it is also liberating. Recognition of the failures of leadership, the complicity of institutions, and the passivity of the people is the first step toward meaningful reform. Sierra Leoneans must decide whether they will remain trapped in cycles of division and injustice or rise together to reclaim their country. Only then can the promise of equality, merit, and fairness become a reality for all.