When the civil war tore through Sierra Leone, few could have predicted that a child whose right arm was cut off at age three would one day become a university graduate, human rights advocate, and award-winning journalist. But that is precisely the path walked by Abass Sesay a man whose life is a testament to resilience, hope, and quiet tenacity. Abass’s early years were shaped by violence and loss.
As a toddler, he lost his right arm in the conflict. He also lost his father and grandmother. His mother survived, but years later, she continued to battle mental illness, living with bipolar disorder and PTSD as a legacy of the war’s trauma. According to Abass, in the chaos after the war, he was trafficked to Senegal as a child. That period stripped him of opportunities afforded to many war-affected youths: overseas study, stable homes, and support. He eventually returned to Sierra Leone only to find himself living on the streets of Freetown, navigating one orphanage after another. In his own words, he knew what it meant to live without dignity, facing stigma, discrimination, and the sheer struggle of survival.
Yet through all that came to define him, Abass held onto one thing: faith, in God and in himself.
He worked hard, defying expectations. Over time he used every chance to learn, study, and rebuild. Eventually, he earned a bachelor’s degree in social work and went further to study law. For Abass, this was not a matter of personal ambition alone. He believed that his story, his scars, could speak for thousands of other Sierra Leoneans with disabilities, war survivors, and people marginalized by society.
In recognition of his journey, in 2021 he was honoured with the “Master of War” Award for Excellence. The presentation acknowledged how, in his own words, “there is ability in disability”.
A career built on justice, service and giving back
Far from resting on personal success, Abass turned his education and experience into a platform for advocacy and service. His record reflects multiple roles:
Volunteer at the Law Reform Commission under the National Youth Service Corps.
Volunteer for Creating Opportunities for Disadvantaged Persons (CODaP) — supporting persons with disabilities and marginalized communities. (provided in the testimony)
Youth Ambassador for Melquosh Mission International (provided in the testimony)
Community monitor for Anti‑Corruption Commission (ACC), overseeing public projects and assets. (provided in the testimony)
Contributor to Center for Memory and Reparation – Sierra Leone (CMR–SL), engaging in platforms for remembrance, justice and peace. (provided in the testimony)
Active member of Africareonline Wellness Services Sierra Leone — supporting wellness and community service programs. (provided in the testimony)
Short-term contract with the Tripartite Legislative Committee under the Attorney General’s Office — supporting legislative work (provided in the testimony).
These accomplishments showcase not merely survival, but commitment: to justice, to community, and to helping transform a country still healing from past wounds.
In 2024, reports noted that although Abass had long graduated, he was still waiting for the job opportunity he had been promised. Four years after completing his degree, he described himself as one of the “most resilient youths” of Sierra Leone.
He appealed to the government and national leadership: highlighting that he is a war-affected amputee who has beaten odds, earned credentials, and volunteered tirelessly. He argued that his struggle should not be defined by pity but by potential, calling for “recognition of my humanity, my contribution, and the rights that protect persons with disabilities and war victims.” (from the testimony)
His appeal is simple: a chance to serve, to build, to contribute not for personal fame, but because he believes in a Sierra Leone that does not abandon its own.
Sierra Leone endured a decade-long war that left tens of thousands dead, many more disabled. Organizations such as Amputees and War Wounded Association (AWWA) continue to advocate for survivors.
Abass’s life shows what is possible when society acknowledges their dignity and offers support.
His message pushes against pity and charity-based narratives. Instead, he embodies dignity, resilience, and agency inspiring other survivors to seek education, empowerment, and active contribution.
Call for inclusion in national rebuilding. With his background in social work, law, advocacy and volunteerism, Abass represents the potential of many young people especially those affected by conflict to help rebuild institutions, support governance, transparency, and social justice in Sierra Leone.
In a heartfelt letter addressed to the government, Abass asks for opportunity: a chance to translate his qualifications, experience, and resilience into service for his country.
He does not ask for charity, but for fairness. For a nation to offer the same dignity and chance to contribute for those wounded by conflict as it does to others.
“For I am ABLE,” he writes, “and I ask only the opportunity to show my worth not under the shadow of my past, but as a citizen who loves and has sacrificed much for this country.”
That message of survival, hope, and unshakeable commitment rings louder than any plea for sympathy.
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Abass Sesay’s journey is not only personal. It is a mirror of Sierra Leone’s own scars and promise. To turn away from him now would be to turn away from a future where trauma becomes testimony, where disability becomes dignity, and where a wounded nation finds healing through its own children.
If the call for opportunity is heard — for him and others like him — each gesture of inclusion could heal not only one life, but dozens, hundreds, even generations.
