Freetown, Sierra Leone—The Council of Churches in Sierra Leone (CCSL) has issued a statement following the suspension of debate by the Speaker and Members of Parliament on the Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health Care Bill, 2024. The proposed legislation will now be referred to a special session of the Legislative Committee that includes key stakeholders.
Selma Lomax, [email protected]
The CCSL praised Speaker Right Honorable Solomon Sengepoh Thomas for his thoughtful handling of this sensitive matter. The Council underscored the importance of thorough consideration and public education concerning the Bill, asserting that this approach is vital for ensuring all perspectives are represented in the discussions.
“As a nation deeply steeped in religious values, we hold the sanctity of life as a fundamental principle of our beliefs,” stated the CCSL. “It is essential to give due consideration to the views of our religious leaders as we navigate this complex issue.”
In their statement, the CCSL reaffirmed its commitment to carefully examining the Bill and announced plans to collaborate closely with the Inter-Religious Council of Sierra Leone (IRCSL) to foster dialogue and understanding among stakeholders. The Council urged all parties involved to remain calm and respectful during the ongoing discussions, emphasizing the need for wisdom, unity, and a commitment to the well-being of the nation.
The CCSL represents a diverse range of denominations, including the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the Baptist Convention Sierra Leone, and the Bo Anglican Diocese, among others, as well as affiliates such as the Bible Society Sierra Leone and the Young Women’s Christian Association.
This call for dialogue arises amid reports that the Biden administration is exerting pressure on the Sierra Leonean government to adopt more permissive abortion policies in exchange for foreign assistance. Although abortion is currently banned in most circumstances in Sierra Leone, the proposed Bill seeks to decriminalize the practice.
According to a former senior U.S. official cited by the Daily Signal, the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), a U.S. government funding agency, is allegedly threatening to withhold hundreds of millions of dollars in foreign assistance if the abortion legislation does not pass.
In September, MCC CEO Alice Albright signed an agreement with Sierra Leone’s Finance Minister, Sheku Bangura, that could secure $480 million in foreign assistance, contingent on the country’s adherence to the MCC’s standards for governance, anti-corruption, and democratic rights.
However, the MCC has denied any effort to influence Sierra Leone’s abortion policies, stating, “The Millennium Challenge Corporation is unaware of any Sierra Leonean abortion legislation and has never made any requests to the Government of Sierra Leone regarding abortion policies.” The organization emphasized that any legislation on this matter is an internal issue for Sierra Leone.
As the debate continues in Parliament, pro-life activists have protested, alleging that President Julius Maada Bio dismissed his attorney general last week for opposing the abortion law. Bio has since appointed Alpha Sesay as the new attorney general; Sesay, a former employee of USAID, has publicly supported the proposed legislation on social media.
Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) criticized the reported pressure campaign from the Biden administration, describing it as “deeply disturbing” that foreign assistance could be linked to the passage of the “deceptively named ‘Safe Motherhood Act’,” which would legalize abortion in a country that currently protects unborn life.
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