The ECOWAS Court has adjourned the case of Satta Lamin Banya, a farmer and politician who was allegedly gang-raped by seven men in April 2018 following the Sierra Leone Presidential Elections.
The case, initially filed on 2 September 2021, was brought before the court again on 27 September 2024, but was postponed after the plaintiff’s legal team requested more time to review the case file.
A new legal team from the Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa has been assigned to the case, and the court has granted their request for adjournment until 4 November 2024.
Banya, who was attacked in front of her children and other family members, reported the incident to local authorities. However, despite her complaints, there has been no significant investigation or prosecution of the suspects.
As a result, the case alleges that the government of Sierra Leone has violated Banya’s rights to justice, dignity, and freedom from torture, as well as international treaties, including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women.
The plaintiff is seeking monetary compensation, medical and psychosocial support, and structural reforms to address sexual violence in Sierra Leone.
The court’s next hearing is set for 4 November 2024.
