Ahmed Turay Flees

By Sheriff Cole

Ahmed Turay, a civil servant from Sierra Leone and a member of the opposition All Peoples Congress Party (APC), had to flee his country after years of political intimidation, threats, and violence allegedly linked to his political affiliation and government employment.

Ahmed worked at Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Social Welfare after gaining employment in 2014.

Before entering government service, he had been an active supporter of the APC political party, a political party he joined while at the university.

However, following the change of government in 2018, when the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) came to power under President Julius Maada Bio, Ahmed says in an interview that, his political identity became a source of danger.

He claimed that colleagues within the ministry, particularly individuals aligned with the ruling party, accused him of leaking sensitive government information to the opposition APC.

Ahmed denied these allegations led to discrimination within the ministry, including being sidelined professionally, denied promotions and training opportunities, and subjected to intimidation and harassment.

Ahmed further alleged that the hostility eventually escalated into direct threats against his life and the safety of his family.

He says he received repeated threatening phone calls, including messages through WhatsApp from unknown individuals warning that he would be arrested, jailed, tortured, or killed for allegedly undermining the government.

One of the most traumatic incidents, according to Ahmed, occurred during the August 2022 protests in Sierra Leone.

He states that he was accused by some community members and former friends of being involved in organizing the demonstrations.

Ahmed says a group of individuals stormed his residence in the Baoma Goderich community, physically assaulted him, and attacked his wife and child.

He further claimed that the violence contributed to his wife losing a three-month pregnancy shortly afterward.

Following the protests, Ahmed said he was taken into police custody, questioned, detained, and tortured for several days.

Since then, he claimed the threats and intimidation have continued through repeated phone calls and warnings from individuals he believed are loyal to the ruling government.

Ahmed also said his home community had become increasingly unsafe because it was considered a stronghold of ruling party supporters.

He claimed that in August 2024, unknown individuals reportedly went to his residence looking for him “dead or alive,” forcing his wife and child to go into hiding for their own protection.

Fearing for his life, Ahmed sought an opportunity to leave Sierra Leone.

He applied to attend the “Digital Exploration Week 2024” conference in the United States, which enabled him to obtain a visa.

According to his account, he departed Sierra Leone on May 31, 2024, traveled through Brussels on Air Brussels, and arrived in the United States on June 1, 2024, through Dulles International Airport.

Today, Ahmed Turay fears returning to Sierra Leone because he believes he could face arrest, torture, or death due to his political affiliation and the accusations made against him.

He also fears for the safety of his wife and child, who he says remain vulnerable to threats and persecution.

Ahmed’s story reflects the difficult experiences many individuals around the world claim to face when political divisions, fear, and insecurity affect their personal safety and livelihoods.