A standard radio interview has turned into a fight for survival for 25-year-old Adama Kamara. Following a bold public appearance on the popular Good Morning Salone program on 98.1 FM, the renowned LGBTQ+ activist has been declared wanted by the Sierra Leone
Police, sparking a targeted crackdown on the country’s queer community.
During the broadcast, Kamara openly discussed her bisexuality, spoke candidly about her partner, and announced plans for a peaceful demonstration advocating for LGBTQ+ rights.
The backlash was immediate. In a press conference following the broadcast, Police Media Relations Officer Brima Kamara defended the hunt for the young activist.
“Adama Kamara has been vocal about her sexuality across various media platforms and is threatening to lead an unauthorized protest march, which is forbidden by law in Sierra Leone,” the spokesperson stated.
The state’s allegations go beyond the radio broadcast. Police claim that investigations link Kamara as a co-founder and “mastermind” behind an underground LGBTQ+ network allegedly responsible for a January 2022 protest that resulted in property damage and injuries.
So far, authorities have arrested twelve suspected members of the local LGBTQ+ community, leaving others fleeing for their lives.
Speaking via an encrypted WhatsApp interview from an undisclosed location, Kamara described the terrifying reality of being a fugitive in her own country.
“I have been brutally beaten by people in my community uncountable times, even before the viral radio interview,” Kamara said, her voice heavy with exhaustion. “I sustained multiple injuries in those attacks. A close friend of mine actually died from injuries they suffered during a brutal mob assault.”
For Kamara, the threat comes from all sides—including her own home. Sources close to the activist reveal she has been vocal about her identity since the age of 17.
This revelation originally prompted her parents to try to force her into an early marriage.
“Giving up wasn’t an option in this fight,” Kamara said. “But the death threats from my father, my family, and the community—combined with the police warrant—have left me terrified for my safety. Most of my friends have been arrested; others escaped. We feel entirely alone. We have reached out to human rights organizations multiple times, but they are doing nothing.
While local grassroots efforts feel abandoned, some international advocacy groups are beginning to speak out. Right Way International, a human rights organization operating in the region, issued a statement strongly condemning the escalating violence and state-sanctioned targeting of LGBTQ+ individuals.
However, the legal framework in Sierra Leone remains heavily stacked against the community.
- The Law: Same-sex sexual activity remains criminalized under colonial-era laws (specifically the Offences Against the Person Act 1861), carrying penalties up to life imprisonment for men, while the legal status for women remains dangerously ambiguous but socially condemned.
- The Social Reality: Beyond state prosecution, queer Sierra Leoneans face severe public humiliation, vigilante violence, and deep-seated cultural and religious ostracization.
For Adama Kamara, the dream of a peaceful march has transformed into a claustrophobic reality of safehouses and hiding. Her plight stands as a stark, harrowing reminder of the high price of visibility in one of West Africa’s most hostile environments for LGBTQ+ human rights.
