THE LOST VOICES OF WAR WIDOWS IN SIERRA LEONE

By Hassan Solokoh Bockarie (ATJLF/MRCG Fellow 2026

In the decades following the end of the civil conflict in Sierra Leone, a silent but enduring crisis persists: the ongoing economic and social marginalization of war widows. These women, as defined by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), are those whose husbands “were killed as a consequence of any abuse or violation and who, as a result, have become the primary breadwinners for their families.” They continue to face profound barriers to rebuilding their lives with dignity.

During and after the war, war widows encountered multiple layers of disadvantage. The TRC found that many of these women were prevented from owning land, inheriting property, or accessing the economic opportunities that their husbands once held. Customary practices of “widow inheritance” and property takeovers by male relatives further compounded their vulnerability.