By Dr Doma
In any true democracy, civil society is meant to be the voice of the people and the watchdog that keeps government on its toes.
But in Sierra Leone, that watchdog seems to have turned into something else entirely.
Civil society was supposed to check power but many of its members now look more like cheerleaders for whichever party happens to be in power.
Take Moses Mambu for example.
Once known for loudly criticizing the APC government, he became a constant voice in the media, releasing hunger surveys and raising alarms about bad governance.
But when the SLPP came into power, something changed.
That same Moses Mambu, once viewed as a bold activist, threw his hat into SLPP politics, contested for the position of Publicity Secretary and won.
Today, he is no longer a behind‑the‑scenes player. He is the official Publicity Secretary of the ruling SLPP government.
He didn’t just switch roles but confirmed what many have suspected all along: that some of these so‑called activists are actually politicians in disguise.
This isn’t just about Mambu.
It’s about a pattern.
During APC’s reign, certain civil society groups were very active, vocal and critical.
They organized press conferences, issued statements and took to the streets.
Now, those same voices have either gone silent or turned into full‑time defenders of the SLPP government.
The activism hasn’t disappeared; it has simply changed colors.
Today, it feels like the only people still loudly calling out the government are the civil society faces once aligned with APC.
Consider the case of Ibrahim Tommy, who was widely recognized for his civil society work through the Centre for Accountability and Rule of Law (CARL).
While he doesn’t hold an official position under the current administration, many now view him as a supporter of the SLPP regime.
Add to that Mohamed Warisay, another civil society actor who shifted toward government support roles.
Also worth noting is Francis Ben Kaifala, a former member of the Renaissance Movement a youth‑led reformist group that once challenged establishment politics who is now serving as the Commissioner of the Anti‑Corruption Commission under the SLPP regime.
Some other members of that same Renaissance Movement have similarly transitioned into partisan or state‑aligned roles.
Then there’s Ngolo Katta.
A long‑standing youth activist and co‑founder of the Center for Coordination of Youth Activities (CCYA), he built his reputation by resisting co‑optation refusing a government job in 2005 meant to silence his activism .
However, under President Julius Maada Bio’s administration, he now heads the government’s Tripartite Secretariat helping to coordinate post‐election consultations and implementing key electoral reforms .
Ngolo Katta, long a champion of youth empowerment through CCYA, resisted a similar approach previously ever since 2005, he refused an offer of a government position meant to stifle his activism .
But today, he is officially heading the Tripartite Secretariat under President Bio’s regime tasked with advancing electoral reform and coordinating inclusive consultations to strengthen democratic processes .
Dr Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai, co‑founder of the Renaissance Movement and Executive Director of the Society for Democratic Initiatives (SDI), played a pivotal role in pushing for landmark legislation, including the Freedom of Information Act and the Sexual Offences Act .
Yet today, while still active in civil society, he occupies high‑profile governance and sports administration positions raising questions about where advocacy ends and alignment begins .
Then there’s Joseph Sannoh, former blogger‑activist and president of the Sierra Leone Bloggers Association.
He has publicly expressed political aspirations insisting he’s a “content creator” rather than a blogger but his calls to reinstate the death penalty and his growing presence in political commentary signal a shift from watchdog to would‑be politician .
It raises real questions.
Can someone truly be neutral and still openly declare for a political party? Can an activist claim independence while wearing party colors and holding a high position in or aligned with government?
Civil society should be free from party loyalty but in Sierra Leone, it seems more like a waiting room for people hoping to enter politics.
Even worse, some of these civil society organizations appear out of nowhere, make bold statements and vanish just as quickly. Others get accused of defending companies or officials with questionable motives.
Some aren’t even properly registered, yet they show up on big issues and disappear when the political winds change.
The situation is becoming clearer by the day: what we thought was civil society might just be a quiet extension of political parties APC today, SLPP tomorrow.
If you scream against one party and clap for the other, you’re not neutral you’re a hidden politician.
And if that’s what civil society has become, then it’s not a watchdog anymore.
It’s an “evil society” wearing the mask of activism.
