Nationwide Peace Walk Calls for Reconciliation Across Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone marked the International Day of Peace with a nationwide peace walk on September 19, bringing together officials, security personnel, diplomats, peace advocates and members of the public in Freetown and across all 16 districts.

The event, organised under the theme “Our Walk, One Voice for Sierra Leone,” was led by the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion. The commission called on citizens to promote reconciliation and help preserve peace in their communities.

Freetown procession

In Freetown, participants from the eastern part of the city assembled at Up-Gun Roundabout, while those from the west gathered at the Cotton Tree in central Freetown. The two groups walked through various streets before converging at Kallon Park at Lumley Beach, where the procession ended.

Similar activities were held throughout the country, a point highlighted by Hawa Samai, Executive Secretary of the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion. She said the event was not limited to Freetown and that all 16 districts had taken part.

Samai thanked participants for attending despite unfavourable weather, saying their presence showed a collective willingness to preserve and protect Sierra Leone’s peace. She also encouraged communities to promote reconciliation as a way of preventing conflict.

Messages from officials and partners

Police Superintendent Samuel Saio Kamara reaffirmed the Sierra Leone Police’s commitment to maintaining peace. “The Sierra Leone Police is committed to peace and people should be peaceful wherever they are,” he said.

Columba Bono-Dick, Assistant Research Officer at the Office of National Security, said peace should be understood more broadly than the absence of war. He described it as involving justice, inclusion and opportunity, while noting the security sector’s commitment to protecting Sierra Leone’s hard-won peace.

Bono-Dick said the security sector would continue work related to human security, national stability and national cohesion, including efforts to strengthen early warning and early response systems at regional, district and chieftaincy levels.

Irish Ambassador to Sierra Leone Patrick McManus described Sierra Leone as a beacon of peace and said the country had an opportunity to demonstrate that peace and dialogue are possible. “Talking is better than not talking and dialogue is better than no dialogue,” McManus said.

Nigerian High Commissioner to Sierra Leone Ambassador Ayo Luther-Ogbomode also said Nigeria remains committed to Sierra Leone’s peace and stability. The ambassador referred to five years of peace and stability in remarks at the event.

Peace and national development

Conrad Sackey, Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, said peace is fundamental to national development. “This peace march is important because without peace development will be absent. Peace is the first step towards development,” he said.

Sackey added that disagreement does not have to lead to conflict. “We can have disagreement but we can still be peaceful,” he said.

Peace Ambassador Abubakarr S. Turay, popularly known as Shaddy Baby, called for sustained efforts to build and nurture peace. “If we want our country to prosper and thrive we must build and nurture peace. Peace is not an option,” he said.

Turay also announced plans for a political tolerance peace show on October 23 at the Bintumani Conference Centre.