Hate speech on social media by Sierra Leoneans

By Teddy Foday-Musa

1. Introduction
Technological advancement has opened up the digital space as a communication medium, allowing individuals to articulate their views in public digital spaces. In this sense, social media has become an essential platform for people to express their opinions on governance and contemporary issues. The role of social media in daily life is perhaps most prevalent among youth, particularly in Sierra Leone. This has created an atmosphere of self-actualisation and youth empowerment. However, the challenge has been cyberbullying, hate speech or extremist narratives undermining peacebuilding efforts and national cohesion struggles. Despite social media abuse, its importance in peacebuilding cannot be overemphasised. However, instead of embracing social media to enhance the country’s post-war peacebuilding agenda, most Sierra Leoneans, both at home and abroad, have adopted it to undermine its peacebuilding process, tearing national cohesion apart. Their activities on social media negatively impact the country’s peacebuilding process. The use of Hate Speech on social media platforms, mainly by APC supporters at home and abroad, has left SLPP supporters with no option but to react to their hate speech narratives, dragging them into similar hate speech engagements. Consequently, Hate Speech on social media has become a rotational music and chair game between APC and SLPP supporters. This essay comes as advice for Sierra Leoneans to join the UN in the fight against Hate Speech.

2. What is Hate Speech?
There is no consensus on the legal definition of Hate Speech and the characterisation of what is ’Hateful’. However, in this essay, I draw from the Hate Speech definition proffered by the United Nations. According to the United Nations (2019):
"Hate Speech is understood as any kind of communication in speech, writing or behaviour that attacks or uses pejorative or discriminatory language with reference to a person or a group on the basis of who they are, in other words, based on their religion, ethnicity, nationality, race, colour, descent, gender or other identity factor" (United Nations, 2019).
In essence, Hate Speech is fodder for conflict. It is often rooted in undermining peace and social cohesion, which generates intolerance and hatred. In a particular context, it can be demeaning and divisive, thus, undermining peace and national cohesion.

3. Contextual Analysis:
The Use of Hate Speech on Social Media
In the context of Sierra Leone, I see a disturbing upsurge of Hate Speech and political intolerance in the country. Since the 2018 elections, public discourse has been weaponised for political gains with incendiary rhetoric that stigmatises particular ethnic groups, political parties, regions, and districts. Social media and other forms of communication are being exploited as platforms for tribal bigotry and hate speech against ethnic groups like the Mendes. Although this can be viewed as an isolated event coming from a few people on the fringes of the political divide, what is real in this context is that "Hate" is moving into the mainstream of a fragile national cohesion, dismantling the long-standing peacebuilding effort. Undoubtedly, Hate Speech is a menace to democratic values, social stability, economic growth, and peacebuilding. The government of Sierra Leone must confront Hate Speech at every turn – and this begs the question: where is the 2020 Cybercrime Act? Addressing Hate Speech does not mean limiting or prohibiting freedom of speech. It means preventing Hate Speech from escalating into something more catastrophic, particularly incitement to hostility and violence, which is not permitted under international law. Tackling Hate Speech is also crucial to enhancing progress and development across the country by helping to prevent serious human rights violations and the recurrence of another civil war. There is no better time than now to engage in the fight against Hate Speech.

4. The Fight against Hate Speech
The United Nations Secretary-General – Antonio Guterres has designed a UN Strategic Vision Plan to fight against Hate Speech. He noted:

"The UN Strategy and Plan of Action on hate speech aims to give the United Nations the room and the resources to address hate speech, which poses a threat to United Nations principles, values and programs. Measures taken will be in line with International human rights norms and standards" (Guterres, 2019).

Sierra Leoneans have a long history of mobilising themselves against hatred and embracing one another. For instance, they are credited for religious tolerance and intermarriages. Similarly, the Mende ethnic group is known for hospitality towards strangers. Sierra Leoneans are a people globally acclaimed for resilience. However, today, I fear that the citizenry has reached another critical moment to showcase their resilience as a people in defining their unity as they engage in the fight against Hate Speech. This points to concrete ways Sierra Leoneans can help the government to play its parts in addressing Hate Speech on social media while upholding freedom of opinion and expression in collaboration with political parties, WhatsApp group admins, digital space providers, civil society, and social media users. Together it is possible and can be done.

5. Conclusion
Sierra Leoneans’ disunity, sparked by the APC-SLPP divide, is no longer a closely guarded secret. In explaining popular local responses to disunity among Sierra Leoneans, it is widely argued that partisan affiliation to either the APC or SLPP is thought to have fueled the disunity among them, mainly experienced during the country’s electioneering period. As the country prepares for the upcoming 2023 elections, I respectfully urge the Sierra Leone Elections Commission (SLEC) to develop rules of engagement that explicitly prohibit Hate Speech from politicians, political parties, and their supporters. Similarly, PPRC can introduce fines for political parties who might go down the road of Hate Speech during their campaigns. It is time to provide a new perspective to awaken politicians and social media users to their role in promoting the country’s peace and national cohesion, to prevent the recurrence of another civil war.