On May 11,2022, one man was arrested and another—John Junior Moses—has been declared wanted by Sierra Leone police after a violent mob in Freetown attacked two young men over an alleged same-sex encounter, highlighting the dangers LGBTQ+ people face under the country’s colonial-era anti-gay laws.
According to accounts shared with reporters, Moses and another man, identified by neighbors only as Alie, were inside a private room when Moses’s uncle allegedly entered unexpectedly and claimed to have discovered them. The uncle reportedly recorded video of the encounter, locked the door, and called police.
The pair reportedly forced a window open to escape, jumping outside as the uncle tried to keep them inside. Neighbors who saw them climbing out mistook them for thieves and raised an alarm, drawing a crowd that began to beat them.
“They were being chased and people thought they were criminals,” said an eyewitness, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisal. “People grabbed them and started hitting them until someone stepped in and said they were not thieves.”
In the chaos, Moses managed to flee. Police later confirmed that Alie was arrested and that John Junior Moses is now wanted in connection with the case.
Same-sex sexual relations are illegal in Sierra Leone under the Offences Against the Person Act of 1861, which carries penalties of up to life imprisonment. Rights advocates say such laws fuel blackmail, public humiliation, and mob attacks.
Across Africa, more than 30 countries maintain similar legislation despite protections for dignity and equality enshrined in the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. In 2014, the African Commission adopted Resolution 275, calling on states to end violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The United Nations Human Rights Council has likewise urged member states to decriminalize same-sex relations.
“This is the reality many LGBTQ+ Sierra Leoneans face,” said a local activist, who requested anonymity for safety. “People live in fear of being exposed, attacked, or arrested simply for who they are.”
