By Alpha Amadu Jalloh
Civil Society in Sierra Leone was once the beating heart of our democracy. It amplified marginalized voices, exposed corruption, and defended human rights. Today, that heart is struggling. A network of self-styled advocates has traded public trust for private gain. They have turned watchdogs into lapdogs of the political elite. This betrayal threatens the very fabric of citizen activism.
Civil Society must be non-partisan, fearless and independent. Yet many of its loudest figures now dine with those they are meant to hold accountable. Moses Mambu is the most glaring example. He paraded for years as a neutral activist while acting, in effect, as the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP)’s unofficial mouthpiece. Now he openly vies for the party’s Public Relations Officer post. The charade is over, but the damage remains.
Mambu is not alone. Alphonsus Gbanie, once hailed as a rising reformer, now echoes party talking points and goes silent on abuses that should spark outrage. Charles Mambu’s former zeal for justice has cooled into calculated convenience. William Sao Lamin has crossed from advocacy into the SLPP’s legal defence team. When defenders of the public quietly convert to defenders of power, Civil Society dies a little each day.
Government benefits from these infiltrations. A pliant advocate dulls criticism, mutes dissent and diverts donor funds meant for grassroots empowerment. Workshops are held, reports are written, per diems are collected, but genuine activism is missing. International partners unknowingly bankroll propaganda wrapped in the language of development.
Sierra Leoneans see the betrayal. They watch as true activists, those who work without salary or spotlight, are sidelined. Funding and influence flow instead to political actors wearing civil society masks. When the last trusted bridge between citizens and state crumbles, frustration turns into desperation and desperation into unrest.
What can be done?
We must begin by naming and exposing the deception. Advocacy is not a launch pad for political careers. If one wishes to engage in politics, that path should be taken openly and honestly without hiding behind the curtain of public interest. Pretending to champion the people while secretly defending the ruling class is nothing short of sabotage.
Real Civil Society Organisations must rise and reclaim their space. The silence of genuine voices has allowed impostors to dominate the national conversation. This silence must end. Activist groups should create ethical guidelines, demand internal transparency and publicly declare any political affiliations that may influence their work.
Donor agencies also carry responsibility. Funding must be tied to values, not just visibility. Loud voices are not always sincere ones. Resources must go to those who consistently work in the interest of the people, not those who show up for photo opportunities and switch allegiances behind closed doors.
Most importantly, the people must remain vigilant. They must question what they are told. They must look behind the curtains of activism and scrutinize the actors. Public trust must not be given freely. It must be earned and protected.
To the masked advocates, the message is simple. Your betrayal will not be forgotten. You have crushed the hopes of the youth who once looked to you for inspiration. You have damaged the bridge between citizens and governance. Yet it is not too late to return to honesty if conscience still matters.
To the unsung activists labouring in villages, slums and classrooms, keep going. Your voices may be muffled, but they are not silenced. Sierra Leone still needs you now more than ever.
The future of our democracy depends on a Civil Society that refuses to be bought. Let us unmask deception, restore trust and rebuild the sector that once stood as the people’s last line of defence. Only then can Sierra Leone begin to heal from this great betrayal.