By Sulaiman Jalloh
The Parliament of Sierra Leone on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, during its 37th plenary sittings unanimously passed and enacted into law “The Counter Terrorism Act, 2024”
Being an Act to provide for the establishment of the National Counter-Terrorism Coordination Committee, to provide for offenses of terrorism and terrorism-related matters to provide for enforcement measures on terrorists’ funds and other assets, to provide for the prohibition of financial support to terrorism, and to provide other related matters.
In an interview with parliamentary journalists, Honorable Abdul Sulaiman Marry-Conteh, chairman legislative committee said the purpose of the act is to reveal punishment against anyone who attempts or plans to carry out an act of terrorism, noting the single objection that was raised by the opposition in Parliament was looked into by stating the exceptions of a terrorism act. “If someone is trying to push for advocacy, it is not a terrorist act; anything about a decent is not a terrorist act. Of course, lawful protest is not a terrorist act. Industrial actions are not terrorist acts as long as you are guided by Law” he explained.
He added that the thing about terrorism is a global phenomenon, adding is not something someone would think about or create at the corner. He said the things raised by the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists SLAJ were looked at even before the association could present its position paper.
Hon. Abdul Kargbo, leader of the opposition All People’s Congress (APC) party, explained the initial position of his party, saying the definition of a terrorist act is broad and that they had raised an eyebrow at it for something he referred to as would be a muscle to the opposition.
In the African model, after the definition of the Terrorist Act, an exemption was given for advocacy, protest, industrial actions, decent, and those opposing the government. The leader emphasized that it would be a safeguard while thanking the government for listening to their concerns. He added that his party was not surprised because their concerns were reasonable; hence, the government listened. “We the opposition, we don’t want it to be like we are supporting terrorist acts” he stated
According to him, in the earlier bill, those involved in advocacy, protest, or anyone condemning or opposing the government were not protected, including those involved in industrial actions, but said it has been reviewed.