By Alpha Sesay
Madam Fatmata Turay, a prominent Sierra Leonean political activist and former Women’s Leader of the opposition All People’s Congress (APC), has been declared wanted by the Sierra Leone Police and now lives in hiding, fearing for her life amid escalating political persecution and threats.
Born in Kono District and raised in Conakry, Guinea, Madam Fatmata Turay’s life has long been marked by political turmoil and personal tragedy. Her late father, a soldier, was reportedly arrested and detained in 1992 for opposing the military takeover in which the current President Julius Maada Bio by then a military Captain actively participated.
He later died in detention under mysterious circumstances and his body was never returned to the family. That incident left a deep scar on her, shaping her lifelong defiance against injustice.
Her mother, widowed and determined, became an active supporter of the All People’s Congress Party (APC), introducing her daughter to politics at a young age. At just 18, Madam Fatmata Turay officially joined the APC and began mobilizing women and youth across Sierra Leone before later seeking refuge in neighbouring Guinea due to mounting insecurity and political unrest.
In Guinea, she quickly rose through the party ranks, becoming Deputy Chairlady of the APC branch in 2007, where she played a key role in the campaign that brought former President Ernest Bai Koroma to power. By 2018, she was appointed Chairlady of the APC branch in Conakry, leading the party’s campaign efforts against the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP); the same political movement now led by President Julius Maada Bio, the man she holds responsible for her father’s death.
In a recent interview, Madam Fatmata Turay described how her life became increasingly endangered under President Bio’s administration. She recalled that political intimidation intensified after the disputed 2023 elections, following the deadly August 8–10, 2022 protests that left several opposition supporters dead or detained. Matters worsened in November 2023 when the Government announced a failed coup attempt, after which numerous political activists and civil society members were reportedly arrested, tortured or killed.
While still in Guinea, Madam Fatmata Turay discovered that her name and photograph had appeared on an official list of wanted persons accused of involvement in both the August 2022 disturbances and the November 2023 coup attempt. Authorities alleged that she had mobilized and supported opposition protesters. As her name circulated across borders, her situation became increasingly precarious.
Fearing arrest, she relocated from Conakry to Kankan to seek temporary safety. However, her hiding place was soon compromised when Guinean police, acting on an extradition request from Freetown, raided the residence where she had been staying. Although she narrowly escaped, several other Sierra Leonean opposition figures were arrested and severely beaten during the operation. According to reports, the landlord of the house later received a copy of an arrest warrant bearing her name, confirming that she was being actively pursued.
In January 2024, collaboration reportedly intensified between Sierra Leonean and Guinean authorities, with Interpol facilitating information exchanges that led to a series of arrests and deportations of Sierra Leonean opposition figures residing in Guinea. Sources close to Madam Fatmata Turay say she was among those targeted for extradition. Terrified by the prospect of capture, she managed to flee Guinea and has since remained in hiding.
An official police notice issued in January 2024 confirmed that the Sierra Leone Police had declared Madam Fatmata Turay wanted in connection with the August 2022 protests, alleging that she mobilized young people to participate in what the Government described as “unlawful demonstrations.”
For Madam Fatmata Turay, this is no longer just a political battle; it is a struggle for survival. Her ordeal reflects the deepening risks faced by opposition members and activists who dare to challenge the prevailing political order. Surrounded by fear, uncertainty and the constant threat of arrest, Madam Fatmata Turay remains a symbol of resilience, a woman determined to stay alive even as her homeland grows increasingly hostile to dissent.
