Hotels - Freetown




Shipping



Freetown Weather


Archives

March 2010
M T W T F S S
« Feb    
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293031  

Page added on December 15, 2009

Email this to a friendEmail This Post Email This Post                      Printable versionPrint This Post Print This Post

Sierra Leone woman barred from becoming chief

Sierra Leone woman barred from becoming chief thumbnail

Author: SEM Contributor

Members of a Sierra Leone traditional group have besieged a woman’s house and stopped her from going home after she launched a legal bid to become a chief.

Elizabeth Simbiwa Sogbo-Tortu (photo) was barred from an election to the chiefdom because she is a woman.

She lost an initial appeal against the ban – a ruling condemned by women’s rights groups who are vowing to take her case to the Supreme Court.

A BBC correspondent says politicians are afraid of angering traditionalists.

The BBC’s Umaru Fofana in Freetown says the politicians also do not want to antagonise women – making them afraid of the whole issue.

Women are barred from becoming chiefs in the Northern Province and most of the east but they are allowed in southern Sierra Leone.

‘Unlawful and wrong’

Ms Sogbo-Tortu was protected by armed police, UN officials and women’s rights campaigners when she tried to return to her home in the eastern Kono district on Monday.

I was the only one denied the right to stand, despite being the eldest and coming from a ruling house” Elizabeth Simbiwa Sogbo-Tortu

But our reporter says the convoy had to turn around after they learnt that her house had been besieged and her supporters targeted.

Members of the Poro secret society then threw stones at the convoy in the town of Sewase 40km (25 miles) from the district capital Koidu despite the presence of the security forces.

Ms Sogbo-Tortu is from a family of chiefs and after her disqualification, her nephew was chosen to be the new chief of Niminyama.

“Ten of us were in the race including my nephews, and I was the only one denied the right to stand, despite being the eldest and coming from a ruling house,” Ms Sogbo-Tortu told the BBC.

Koidu

“I want the courts to rule that it is my right as a woman to become paramount chief in my home district. And this is not just about me. It is about all women all over the country.”

She has now returned to the capital, Freetown.

Yasmine Jusu-Sheriff, vice-chair of the Human Rights Commission told the BBC that she would take the case to the Supreme Court.

“We think [the disqualification] is illegal and unlawful and wrong.”

Our reporter says that the position of paramount chief remains extremely powerful in Sierra Leone.

He says they command huge respect and are able to mobilise large numbers of votes during elections.

The chiefs are elected by local councillors.

by BBC News

Stay with Sierra Express Media, for your trusted place in news!

© 2009, Sierra Express Media. All rights reserved.









RELATED STORIES

Search This Site


LATEST NEWS HEADLINES

ALSO IN THE NEWS

President Ernest Bai Koroma Arrives in Nigeria Again thumbnail President Ernest Bai Koroma Arrives in Nigeria Again

Author: Pasco Gerald Temple - Nigeria

President Ernest Bai Koroma has arrived in the Federal Republic of Nigeria Tuesday March 9th to join his Colleague Presidents in a bid to endorse the initiative for the development of Agribusiness and Agro-businesses in Africa. (President Koroma, at left, in suit)
He will join his colleagues on the third and final day of a three [...]

MORE STORIES

Bumbuna residents cry over Bumbuna light! thumbnail Bumbuna residents cry over Bumbuna light!

HAVE YOUR SAY

HAVE YOUR SAY Did you travel to Freetown recently? What is your perspective on Lungi International airport?

Our New Website Has a More Efficient Layout

Our New Website Has a More Efficient Layout We invite you to give us your feedback

MORE NEWS HEADLINES