AYV News, July 2, 2024

A group of community and religious leaders in Moriba Town, southern Sierra Leone, have banished a same-sex couple from the community after they tied the knot last week.

At a meeting held this morning, they also indefinitely suspended the Pastor who allegedly presided over the ceremony, and put out a notice for someone who was heard in a video celebrating the union by shouting “ebebebebebebe!!”

The PRO of the group, Mamadu Allieu Shaw, said they had also resolved that the couple should not be employed anywhere around the mineral-rich area.

The Pastor is said to have apologised, saying he only blessed the wedding cake and did not bless the wedding ring thinking it was a birthday celebration he had been invited to.

The bar where the ceremony happened has also been closed while a task force has been set up to ensure enforcement of the measures.

According to the minutes of the meeting, Pastors, a Catholic Priest, an Imam, a Chief and youth leaders were among the attendees.

There has so far been no reaction from the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, or another diverse gender identity (LGBTQ+) community in the country.

Credit: Umaru Fofanah