The New Normal in Fourah Bay College Student Politics: Violence

June 25, 2019

FREETOWN--25th June 2019: Students on campus were caught up in violence today, as the Students' Union Presidential Debate took place at Fourah Bay College.

The debate was organised by the Sierra Leone Debating Council (SLDC) Fourah Bay College chapter. The goal was for all candidates to talk about issues affecting the college and what they would do if elected president.

The three candidates are: Eunice Naffie Mustapha, whose supporters are mainly from the “black camp,” Mohamed Wurie Bah from the “white camp,” and Mohammed Kabba, whose supporters are called neutralists.

According to eyewitnesses, it was supporters from both the “white and the black camps” that started the fight.

Supporters from the two camps, just at the very end of the debate, went wild as they pelted each other with stones, smashed windowpanes of a newly renovated building, and vandalised cars, forcing innocent students to run for their lives. Police later got to the scene and fired teargas to halt the fight.

This is how one Mass Communications student described his ordeal:

"It was very disappointing. A stone hit a friend of mine, and I saw three other students faint, one of them a lady. I was at the verge of taking photos when I saw some of these supporters trying to attack me. Fortunately, I took (refuge) in one of the buildings. I went into an office and locked the door. They came after me and started throwing stones at the door, demanding that I should come out. I had to delete some of the footage I took on the scene to save my life, as they (forced) the door. When I got out, they searched my phone thoroughly but couldn't find anything, so they started using invectives. Luckily, they (left) and I took the way home."

"All the routes were barricaded," said a Peace and Conflict student.

"We got stuck up on campus. Those with cars had to hide them by the mosque area to keep them safe, as these supporters were all over the place, acting like mad hounds. Two trucks of police showed up, firing teargas, and they were able to break the bout. It was after the supporters (escaped through) the woods that we finally got a chance to make it home safely," she said.

A Political Science student said today's riot confirmed his greatest fear.

"I see no headway for the political system in Sierra Leone because if we who are claiming to be in a university are behaving in this manner, I wonder what we would portray in the future? For the first time, I smelled the stench of teargas. It was quite awful and sad," he said.

Augustine Bona, one of the hosts of the debate, watched as a Sociology student collapse.

"Thanks to God, she was rushed to emergency treatment downtown. Her close friend mentioned that she is an asthma patient and couldn't bear the (tear) gas. The stoning-war kept up its heat even as I was smuggled away on a bike via an alternative route to Model Junction!"

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education has issued a press release to suspend all activities with regards to the Students' Union election. They have asked for the administration of the Fourah Bay College to initiate an investigation into the cause (s) of the violence, identifying actions and perpetrators to be reported to the ministry, on or before the 2nd July 2019. They also requested the Sierra Leone police to deploy at specific locations on campus for the security of staff, students and assets.