At least 21 civilians and 8 police officers tragically lost their lives in an eruption of violence last week on the streets of Freetown, Sierra Leone, in what are believed to be anti-government protests aimed at overthrowing President Julius Maada Bio, though the full details are not yet known. Police used tear gas and, in some cases, guns in an attempt to disperse the large crowds of protesters throwing rocks and burning tyres in the nation’s capital. Whilst the largest protest took place in Freetown, this frustration has been felt nationwide; several towns in the north of the country, which has become the heartland of the country’s political opposition, also saw large demonstrations.

Sierra Leone’s Minister of Youth Affairs Mohamed Orman Bangura stated that “we are yet to know how many people were injured, but I can confirm that eight police officers were killed.”  He went on to say controversially, “those are not protesters. There’s a difference between protest and riot and acts of terrorism. Protesting is different from acting as a terrorist, going against the state, and killing young officers.”

This distinct lack of sympathy from Bangura instantly appears disappointing: blaming the protesters, and giving off the impression that they got what they deserved, is alarming. Instead of dismissing the protesters as ‘terrorists,’ a greater empathetic understanding of their grievances and position must undoubtedly be developed. Whilst the violence can in no way be excused, these protests were in part born out of disastrous political decision-making. The incumbent government must therefore understand that the violence witnessed earlier this week was not at all inevitable.

Citizens’ frustrations have been fueled by a worldwide cost of living crisis, exacerbated by heightening prices for basic goods within Sierra Leone. Approximately 60% of Sierra Leoneans live below the poverty line, living on as little as $1.25 per day. Sierra Leone remains one of the poorest nations on Earth, ranking 180^th out of 187 countries in the Human Development Index. To make matters worse, the nation has been rated as only ‘partly free’ in Freedom House’s annual study of political rights and civil liberties. Opposition parties consistently face police violence, government corruption is pervasive, and huge swathes of public money are never seen by the public.

The country must find a way to come together, citizens and politicians alike, in an attempt to create a greater mutual understanding of each other’s wants and desires. Steps must be taken to rebuild Sierra Leone’s democracy. Only then will the concerns of its population begin to be addressed.