Bi-Sexual Man Flees Sierra Leone After Alleged Mob Attack
A Sierra Leonean man has fled the country after he was beaten unconscious and threatened with death because of his sexual orientation. According to accounts provided by his relatives, 28-year-old Sumorie Lalugba Kamara was attacked on April 20, 2025, at Lumley Beach in Freetown while celebrating his partner’s birthday. Witnesses said the assault was carried out by a group of youths, with police officers allegedly present at the scene.
Kamara’s elder sister, Jeneba Mesali, told reporters that she rushed him to Yangadie Hospital after finding him unconscious. “I managed to get him out before the crowd turned completely on him,” she said. Mesali added that Kamara’s partner was taken away during the incident and has not been seen since. Kamara was later discharged after a week in hospital. Jeneba confirmed their house in Wilberforce was searched by youths threatening to kill him.
Family members said the incident also led to Kamara’s father losing his position at the local mosque. Neighbours reportedly accused the family of harbouring “an abomination,” forcing them into hiding. Jeneba claims her father later died from the stress and humiliation. ‘I last saw my brother few days after his discharge from hospital, the pressure was too much on him. I hope he is somewhere safe, as a family, we wish he was here but for his safety I understand why he might have gone into hiding, because if he was here; he would been dead by now” She stated.
Homosexuality remains criminalised in Sierra Leone under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861, a colonial-era law still in force. Sections 61 and 62 of the Act classify “buggery” and “gross indecency” between men as criminal offences, punishable by life imprisonment or a term of years. While prosecutions are rare, rights groups say the law fuels social stigma and enables harassment and violence against LGBTQ+ individuals.
The legal environment is compounded by deep-rooted cultural and religious opposition to same-sex relationships. Human rights organisations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have documented repeated instances of mob violence, arbitrary detention, and forced evictions targeting suspected gay or bisexual individuals in Sierra Leone. Activists say that without legal reforms and stronger protections, people like Kamara will continue to face threats to their safety and lives.
