The Unanswered Story of Sulaiman Sesay
By Musa Sesay
Sulaiman Ahmed Sesay came from a deeply Muslim family. His father, Amadu Ahmed Sesay, was a Chief Imam of the Temne Central Mosque on Old Field Street.
In December 2020, Sesay reportedly came to terms with his bisexual identity. The revelation later created serious tension within his family, particularly over marriage and religious expectations.
By December 2021, discussions involving family members, traditional authorities and religious figures reportedly centered on his refusal to accept an expected marriage arrangement. After information about his sexuality allegedly reached relatives, he reportedly faced condemnation and threats, forcing him to relocate to Hastings.
At the same time, Sesay was an active supporter of the All People’s Congress (APC), a political affiliation he had maintained since the 1990s.
His political activities became increasingly significant during Sierra Leone’s political unrest.
In August 2022, violent protests over the cost of living spread across the country. Sesay was reportedly in Makeni participating in APC related activities when he was arrested and detained at Tekoh Military Barracks for approximately 21 days. During that period, he reportedly learned of the death of his cousin, Hassan Dumbuya, an APC supporter and activist.
The political crisis continued into 2023, particularly around the disputed general elections. On June 25, 2023, security forces surrounded the APC headquarters in Freetown, where an APC volunteer was killed. The incident became one of several flashpoints between the government and opposition.
Later that year, the November 2023 attempted coup triggered another wave of arrests and prosecutions involving military personnel and people linked to the political crisis.
Against this background, Sesay’s situation became increasingly complicated. His alleged vulnerability was not connected to one issue alone. His sexuality brought family and religious pressure, while his APC affiliation placed him within a highly tense political environment.
But the most important question remains unanswered:
Where is Sulaiman Ahmed Sesay?
His history contains allegations of threats, political detention, violence and forced movement, yet his whereabouts remain unclear. Determining what happened to him requires evidence including witnesses, official records, arrest information, medical records and a verified timeline.
The wider political violence in Sierra Leone during 2022 and 2023 is independently documented, but that does not automatically establish what happened to Sesay.
His case therefore remains an unresolved story at the intersection of identity, faith, political allegiance and personal security and the investigation ultimately begins where the known trail ends.
