Augustine Sorie-Sengbe Marrah

Augustine Sorie-Sengbe Marrah is a leading lawyer and pro-democracy activist in Sierra Leone. Graduating at the top of his class from Sierra Leone Law School in 2009, he has over sixteen years of legal practice. In 2010, he earned a master's degree in human rights and democratisation in Africa from the University of Pretoria's Centre for Human Rights, after which he spent seven years at Yada Williams and Associates, one of Sierra Leone's leading law firms.

Augustine has provided extensive legal and consultancy services to the Sierra Leonean government, major corporate clients, non-profits, and international bodies such as the UNDP, Trocaire and EU Mission in Sierra Leone. Among his key contributions to national policy are his lead drafting roles in developing the proposed data protection law and regulation, reviewing civil registration law and vital statistics regulations, and drafting national policies on NGOs and business and human rights.

Augustine has represented clients in international commercial arbitrations before the London Court of International Arbitration and the International Chamber of Commerce Arbitration Court. He also served as co-counsel in a landmark case filed by the association of Ebola survivors against the Republic of Sierra Leone at the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice.

Over the past decade, Augustine has gained recognition as a leading public interest litigator, frequently challenging government actions or policies deemed detrimental to good governance. His notable achievement was in April 2022, when he won a pivotal case against the Inspector General of Police concerning unlawful restrictions on vehicular movement during national elections—a ruling that has since influenced electoral governance in Sierra Leone.

After the June 2023 general elections, he contested the Electoral Commission's refusal to release detailed election results, though the Supreme Court dismissed the case on procedural grounds.

In 2019, the President appointed Augustine to a seven-member team tasked with developing a national anti-corruption strategy. He served on the Pharmacy Board of Sierra Leone from 2018 to 2021, chairing its disciplinary committee, and was secretary of the General Legal Council and its disciplinary committee from 2014 to 2016.

In 2024, Augustine ran for president of the Sierra Leone Bar Association; while the outcome is being legally challenged, he was subsequently elected unopposed to lead the newly formed Lawyers' Society, which has become a leader in defending the rule of law and promoting good governance.

Augustine is renowned for his advocacy in human rights and democracy, regularly commenting on issues such as governance, justice, and freedom of expression—often through blogging. For over a decade, he has supported the media in the quest for media freedoms and open civic space; advocated for electoral governance through his work with National Elections Watch, an NGO consortium monitoring elections.

His outspoken activism, particularly against judicial corruption, has sometimes jeopardized his career. For instance, in 2020 the Supreme Court found him in contempt for criticizing its judgment as politically motivated. That same year, Augustine co-founded Freedom Hub, a think tank advancing economic and social justice through litigation, research, and policy advocacy. The organization empowers marginalized communities, helps them navigate relevant laws and policies, and pushes for reforms that enhance fairness and equity.

In addition to membership in both the Sierra Leone Bar Association and the Lawyers' Society, Augustine is also a member of the African Bar Association, the International Bar Association, and the Commonwealth Lawyers Association. He currently manages his own law firm, Marrah & Associates, in Sierra Leone.