SLPP’s Support Base in Peril : The Story of Biriwa Mandingoes and the SLPP
By Dr. Sorie Gassama
The relationship between the governing SierraLeone People’s Party (SLPP) and the Mandingoes of Biriwa Chiefdom, Bombali District, Northern Sierra Leone has been a long and tumultuous one.
The Mandingoes of Biriwa have indeed faced a long history of persecution and marginalization, particularly at the hands of the All People’s Congress (APC). Despite this, they have remained loyal to the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP). However, their loyalty has not been reciprocated with tangible benefits, leaving them feeling neglected and disillusioned.
At a tender age and as an eyewitness, I witnessed my father’s house being demolished and my family threatened by APC supporters during an election campaign for sheltering a prominent SLPP member by the name of Moses Koh.
Come elections, APC supporters always intimidate and threaten minority Mandingo SLPP supporters, warning them of deadly consequences if they vote for the SLPP party. Despite these threats, many Mandingo SLPP supporters cast their votes, only to face severe retaliation, including daily attacks on their homes with stones for weeks after the elections.
As an ardent SLPP Grand Chief Patron card holder, I have been threatened on several occasions by APC cyber thugs while I battle to save the good name of the SLPP Party.
Before the 2018 and 2024 elections, I visited my people, most of whom are my uncles, aunts, and cousins in the surrounding villages around my town to campaign for the SLPP Party at high risks and witnessed how my Mandingo people were being harassed by the dominant APC supporters.
Despite facing relentless intimidation and violence, Mandingo people bravely cast their votes for the SLPP party. The aftermath was marred by days and nights of harassment, with some villages even blocking their paths to main roads due to their political affiliation. How far can a group of people continue supporting a party that has so far failed to acknowledge their efforts?
The question I have so far found difficult to answer is my people wanting to know why they should continue to support a party that has so far done nothing for them – a party that has failed to acknowledge even one of their own educated ones, among them with Ministerial or Ambassadorial appointments.
Indeed, they are right.
Among the Biriwa Mandingoes are very educated ones with doctoral degrees from well recognized overseas universities, those who speak several international languages and can very well represent Sierra Leone in overseas missions with honor, yet they are being marginalized and treated as nonentities.
The Mandingoes of Biriwa have expressed deep disappointment in their selected national chief – a man believed to have failed to deliver on promises to support his community. Despite his reported connections to the current president, they firmly believe that he has not utilized this influence to improve their situation, leaving them feeling neglected and let down.
Regrettably, the Mandingos’ hopes and dreams remain elusive, as the selected Chief most often refuses to engage with them. However, it’s heartening to see that the Mandingoes have become more aware of their interests and can now discern what truly benefits them.
As the saying goes, “You can fool some people sometimes, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.” It is good for the SLPP party to know that this group of people is their support base in Biriwa, and Bombali in general so that keeping them disillusioned can lead to a great imbalance and disaster for the party in the district.
We are therefore asking His Excellency Retired Brigadier Juluis Maada Bio and his Government to look at this issue as a matter of concern, and find a way to appease the Mandingoes of Biriwa before a change of mind saunters in causing the party to lose this viable group of voters.
As a long-standing supporter and Grand Chief patron of the party, I would welcome the opportunity to discuss some of these issues with President Bio, sharing my unique perspective and insights at His Excellency’s earliest convenience.
About the Author
Dr. Sorie Gassama is a distinguished educator, researcher, and author with a strong academic background and extensive teaching experience. He holds a PhD in Educational Leadership and has published numerous peer-reviewed articles and book chapters.
Professor Gassama’s research expertise includes dropout prevention, poverty, inequality, and language learning. He serves as a reviewer for the International Journal of Learning, Teaching, and Educational Research. His forthcoming book, “Global Dropout,” promises to contribute significantly to the education discourse.
