Kidnapped and trafficked twice - a sex worker`s life in Sierra Leone

Isata, a young single mother in her early twenties, represents the harsh realities faced by sex workers in Sierra Leone. Her journey has been marked by extreme violence, kidnapping, and trafficking—experiences that have tragically become commonplace in the lives of many women in the country. Over the years, Isata has been trafficked across borders, rescued, and trafficked again, all while battling addiction to a street drug known as kush, which is causing devastation throughout Sierra Leone. BBC Africa Eye followed Isata's story over four years, capturing her struggle to survive in Makeni, a city infamous for its diamond trade, which once fueled the nation's brutal civil war. Like hundreds of other sex workers in the region, Isata works to provide for her daughter, despite enduring unimaginable hardships. Isata recounted one of many violent encounters: "I met a man in the club. He tore my clothes, took money from my bra, and hit me on the head with a gun. He wanted to kill me." This is just one of the countless dangers she faces, with many of her peers having contracted HIV or been killed.

Life as a sex worker in Sierra Leone is fraught with peril, but for many, it's their only means of survival. Mabinty, another sex worker, described her nightly routine, seeing up to ten men for just a dollar per visit to support her children, three of whom have already died. Her story echoes the suffering of thousands of women across the country who have turned to prostitution, particularly as the effects of the Ebola outbreak and the COVID-19 pandemic continue to disproportionately affect women. Although prostitution is legal in Sierra Leone, sex workers are often treated as societal outcasts, with little support from the government or the community. Isata's life took a further dark turn when she was kidnapped by a criminal gang and trafficked to The Gambia, Senegal, and Mali, forced into sex slavery. She managed to escape with help from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), only to return to Sierra Leone where she struggled to find stable work and later relapsed into sex work due to addiction.

Isata's story is not unique. Nata, another sex worker and mother of three, shares similar struggles, working to provide for her children while grappling with addiction to kush. For many, the desperation and trauma of their situation drive them deeper into a cycle of substance abuse and exploitation. Sadly, Isata was trafficked once more in 2024, deceived with the promise of nanny work in Ghana. Instead, she found herself in Mali, forced to sell sex in a gold-mining area, under the control of traffickers who demanded she pay $1,700 to buy her freedom. Trafficking is a pervasive issue in Sierra Leone, with thousands of women and children falling victim each year. Many are never seen again, sold into forced labor or sexual exploitation. Fortunately for Isata, she has returned to Makeni, where she now lives with her mother and two children, hoping to rebuild her life. ⚡ Image Credit: BBC