Sierra Leone confronts huge public outcry after her political parties’ regulator decides to stop street rallies across the nation.

The ban comes just when the country barely has two months to its general elections slated in June 24. This is being contested by some Sierra Leoneans.

“We can’t just have few days to elections and you announce a ban on party’s rallies, that is not how a state is run,” says a caller at a radio program in Waterloo.

The nation overseer of politics, Political Parties Regulation Commission (PPRC) has condemned political parties from holding mass street rallies ahead of the presidential, mayoral and parliamentary elections in Sierra Leone.

PPRC rules that political parties should instead hold rallies in the form of gathering at specific locations.

This man supports the idea: “It is not bad if we hold rallies at stadiums” he said.

The man further argues that streets rallies are said to be a crime. His view coincides with PPRC’s supposed ruling to discourage teeming crowds on the streets.

While followers of the ruling party, Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) may support the ruling, opposition members of All People’s Congress ( APC) are not backing the move.

“We want to let out our anger against president Bio because the hardship is too much for us,” a supporter was heard saying on the street of the main capital.

Other supporters have advanced similar views referring to the ruling government as being jittery over the opposition’s popularity.

The opposition, APC has reacted saying the pronouncement by PPRC doesn’t ring true. Since Freetown is lately APC powerbase, most people are sad over the ban.

But a party follower insists that when the law house closes down, rallies will go ahead like in the past.

However, the street ban rally will similarly affects the ruling government strongholds, Bo city, Kenema and Kailahun.

But the capital Freetown, the seat of power, seems to be the main target of government control as its crowd hugely represents a party strength and chances of victory.

An informed citizen was quick to cite Nigeria just concluded general elections held on February 25.

“Let our leaders don’t fool us; we all saw what happened in Abuja, Lagos in Nigeria. Pubic streets rallies are held there despite heightening security concerns that affect Nigerians. So why shouldn’t we have street rallies in Sierra Leone,” he explains.

He adds: “even in the United States political rallies are held in different states across the nation.”

As the argument continues in public squares, democracy in Sierra Leone appears to have lost its true meaning.

This is because state actors are suppressing citizens’ freedom of association and dissent.

While the bastion of democracy, USA, still vows to support African countries with huge donors to promote democracy, Sierra Leone is currently not upholding democratic ideals as laws are passed to solidify government stay in power.

President Joe Biden of the United States recently donated USD $ 165m to Sierra Leone and other five African countries with the aim of upholding democratic principles during elections.

Giving their views more on the issue of stopping street rallies, another Sierra Leonean narrates.

When SLPP was loved by Freetownians, says a top up seller, Alusine, late president Ahmed Tejan Kabba was Sierra Leoneans’ flavour of the moment.

“During rally times in 2002, Sani Abacha street traders would chant songs; no ban was placed; no arrests were made…why must they stop road show rallies now?” he recalls.