Sia Bintu, a 40-year-old single mother
By: Mohamed Sahr
Sia Bintu, a 40-year-old war-wounded victim residing at the Grafton War Wounded Camp, recounts her harrowing ordeal during the Sierra Leonean civil war. At just 14 years old, she was shot and brutally gang-raped by rebels in Kono, left bleeding and traumatised. The scars of that horrific experience continue to haunt her, straining her marital life.
She recalls being rescued by an elderly woman who treated her with herbal medicine before she was later transported by ECOMOG forces to Freetown for proper medical care at Connaught Hospital in 1998. Since then, her reintegration into society has been fraught with hardship. Alongside other survivors, she found refuge through Cross Canada, a non-governmental organisation that provided vocational training in weaving to help them rebuild their lives.
The only tangible reparation package she received was a one-time cash transfer from the National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA) in 2009, amounting to 3,000 old Leones (300 new Leones). Since then, “no further support has been provided,” she said. This has left war-wounded victims like Bintu struggling to survive in dire conditions. Many of her fellow victims have succumbed to the harsh realities of inadequate healthcare, extreme poverty, and the absence of free education.
Bintu, now a single parent, relies solely on weaving to sustain herself and her newborn daughter. Despite her resilience, she remains trapped in a cycle of economic hardship, with little hope of relief.
Aruna Rashid Kamara, another war-wounded survivor at the Grafton War Wounded Camp, expressed frustration over the lack of government support. Once an ambitious young boy with dreams of education, Rashid’s life took a tragic turn when he was captured at 15, tortured, and had his fingers severed. His aspirations were shattered by the war, leaving him among the countless victims struggling for survival.
He acknowledged the assistance received from Norwegian Refugees through the Cotton Tree Foundation, which provided them with housing. But beyond that, survival has been a daily struggle, he said.
“The cost of living is unbearable,” Rashid lamented. “Some of us have no choice but to climb the hills to fetch firewood, which we sell to buy food. Others rely on weaving to make ends meet.” Rashid added.
The grim reality of their living conditions has led to the premature deaths of many victims, according to the residents here in this camp. “We have lost countless friends and family members,” said Rashid.
“Some fall ill and die without medical attention, while others endure prolonged suffering with no proper care.”
Rashid decried the government’s failure to implement the recommendations outlined in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) report.
“The government must fulfil its duty to us,” he said. “We have suffered enough.”
Adama Sesay, another resident of the Grafton War Wounded and Amputees Camp, echoed the same sentiments, lamenting the worsening living conditions they face daily, including lack of social services. She noted that government assistance has left many in despair.
Wuya Sao Kallon, Manager of the Centre for Memory and Reparations, highlighted the ongoing struggle to secure justice and support for war-wounded victims.
Founded in 2002, the organisation advocates for war victims, including amputees, war widows, and orphans, addressing the long-lasting consequences of the 11-year civil war.
Since October 2023, the Centre has been partnering with war survivors and amputees to alleviate their suffering, particularly focusing on the government’s failure to provide reparations.
“We cannot speak of transitional justice while these challenges persist,” Kallon said. “We have taken it upon ourselves to support them in any way possible.”
In 2023, the Centre initiated a project documenting victims’ experiences and suffering, shedding light on the realities of their struggles. They also facilitated donations, including a sum of NLe 7,550 during the 20th anniversary of the TRC, with a more recent contribution to support the victims.
Kallon stressed that despite the TRC’s recommendations, the government has yet to fulfill its obligations. The commission outlined four categories of beneficiaries eligible for material reparations: war-wounded victims, amputees, war widows, and orphans, those who suffered the most devastating consequences of the war.
“These individuals are appealing to the government, whose primary responsibility is to implement the TRC recommendations,” she asserted. “Cash alone is not enough. Rehabilitation, symbolic reparations, and other long-term measures are necessary.”
She further highlighted the lack of free education for their children and the absence of adequate medical facilities.
According to the TRC Act of 2005, war-wounded victims and amputees, along with their children, are entitled to free transportation, free education, and free medical care, including the provision of seed rice by the Ministry of Agriculture to improve their livelihoods.
“However, the promised reparation package remains a distant dream,” said Kallon. “If the government truly intends to embark on reparation efforts, it must first consult the survivors. They know best what they need.” She stated.
The National Commission for Social Actions (NaCSA) did not respond to a request for comment on the issues raised here in relation to its work as the body responsible for implementing issues of reparation, among others.
Volume Two, Chapter Four of the TRC report details various reparation measures designed to restore dignity to victims and promote national reconciliation. Section 6(2)(b) of the TRC Act mandates the commission to facilitate the restoration of victims’ human dignity, emphasising their right to reparations.
The TRC report also acknowledges the impossibility of compensating every victim, but notes the need to prioritise those deemed particularly vulnerable due to the severity of their suffering. The commission’s recommendations include free primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare for war-wounded victims, with continued care for children until they reach adulthood. Families of severely injured victims (with at least a 50% reduction in earning capacity) were also promised healthcare support.
However, these provisions remain largely unfulfilled. The TRC envisioned a reparations program that would offer lasting support, yet survivors continue to struggle in neglect.
The war-wounded and amputee community continues to call upon the government and goodwill Sierra Leoneans to step in and provide meaningful support. The Centre for Memory and Reparations insists that reparations should go beyond cash payments and include sustainable measures such as rehabilitation, access to quality healthcare, education, and economic empowerment programs.
“Adequate reparation is a fundamental part of engaging war-wounded survivors and amputees,” Kallon emphasised. “Without it, their suffering will persist, and the nation’s path to reconciliation will remain incomplete.”
As Sierra Leone reflects on its post-war journey, the plight of these forgotten heroes must not be ignored. Their cries for justice and dignity must be met with tangible action, ensuring that they receive the support and recognition they rightfully deserve.
This story is brought to you with support from the Africa Transitional Justice Legacy Fund (ATJLF) through the Media Reform Coordinating Group (MRCG), under the project “Engaging Media and Communities to Change the Narrative on Transitional Justice Issues in Sierra Leone.”
Adama Sesay, war-wounded victim Aruna Rashid Kamara, war- wounded victim
