In a country where the law criminalizes who you love, running is sometimes the only option.
Mohamed Lamin Conteh and his partner Prince fled Sierra Leone to an undisclosed destination after being caught in an intimate moment — not by strangers or police, but by someone much closer to home.
The two were at Prince’s house in Waterloo, on the outskirts of Freetown, when a man suddenly walked in on them. In a rush of panic and fear, the man reportedly tried to restrain them and raise an alarm. Believing it was a stranger intent on exposing or harming them, Prince struck him with a stick in self-defense as they tried to escape.
“At that point, they didn’t know who he was,” said Ibrahim, a neighbor familiar with the incident. “They thought it was just someone who caught them and wanted to create a scene.”
It was only after they had fled that Prince learned—through a phone call—that the man was, in fact, his uncle.
In the confusion, Prince’s own phone, which he had used to store his savings, was nearly left behind—but he recovered it and later used the money on it to fund their escape.
Under Section 61 of the Offences Against the Person Act of 1861, same-sex sexual activity between men remains illegal in Sierra Leone, punishable by up to life imprisonment. Though prosecutions are rare, the social stigma, religious condemnation, and threat of mob justice make such incidents life-threatening.
Fearing arrest and retaliation amidst growing tension and reports of police raids, the boys initially fled to Masiaka, about 80 kilometers from Waterloo. But as word of the incident spread, they crossed into a neighboring West African country. Their exact location remains unknown.
“It was either run or risk their lives,” Ibrahim said.
The fallout was swift. In communities like Waterloo, religion and tradition leave little space for tolerance, especially around LGBTQ+ issues.
“What they did brought shame—and then they assaulted an elder,” said a local imam, speaking on condition of anonymity. “That is beyond forgiveness.”
Such views reflect the harsh reality LGBTQ+ individuals face in Sierra Leone. The law may criminalize them, but it’s the social environment—marked by threats of violence, family rejection, and public humiliation—that drives many into silence or exile.
Human rights advocates say Mohamed and Prince’s experience is far from isolated. Many young people in West Africa are forced into hiding simply for expressing who they are.
“This is someone who was not protected—he was criminalized,” a LGBTQ+ rights advocate said. “Now he’s in hiding, and we don’t know if he’s safe.”
“They didn’t mean to hurt anyone. They just wanted to be free. But there is no freedom for people like them in Sierra Leone.”
Authorities are reportedly still investigating the assault and related events, but no formal charges have been filed.
For now, Mohamed and Prince remain across the border—scared to speak openly, unable to return, and unsure of what lies ahead.
Their story highlights more than just a personal tragedy. It reflects a larger pattern of fear, persecution, and flight faced by queer youth under outdated laws and unforgiving social norms.
