Former President Ernest Bai Koroma has expressed support for Sierra Leone’s forthcoming National Unity and Social Cohesion Conference, saying the initiative is timely, relevant and necessary for strengthening reconciliation and political tolerance.

A delegation from the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion visited Koroma at his residence in Makeni on 20 October 2026. The delegation briefed him on the conference’s objectives, structure and expected outcomes, while seeking his views on national unity and inclusive leadership.

The delegation included Executive Secretary Hawa Sally Samai, Registrar of the Residual Special Court for Sierra Leone Binta Mansaray, Northern Region Coordinator Foday Kanu and Deputy Director of Communications and Outreach Hawa Barrie.

Focus on peacebuilding and reconciliation

Mansaray said the conference should concentrate on peacebuilding, reconciliation and social cohesion rather than partisan political differences. She also said leaders from different political backgrounds have a shared responsibility to protect Sierra Leone’s peace, stability and national interests.

The conference is scheduled for 26 and 27 October at the Bintumani Conference Centre in Freetown. It is expected to provide a platform for examining political tolerance, rebuilding public trust and improving cooperation among stakeholders with differing views.

Koroma said trust, dialogue, responsible leadership and mutual respect are essential to peace, reconciliation and national development. He also stressed that peacebuilding should be treated as a continuing national responsibility, rather than an effort limited to conferences or public statements.

“Leadership matters,” Koroma said, while emphasizing the importance of political leaders with different perspectives taking part in the same discussion.

Call for continued engagement

Koroma suggested that Sierra Leone could establish arrangements for regular consultations among current and former national leaders. He referred to Nigeria as an example of a country where former heads of state maintain platforms for discussing national matters.

He also recalled his mutual respect and communication with late former President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, as well as communication with late former Vice President Solomon Berewa, who occasionally shared advisory notes with him.

Koroma said regular engagement between himself and President Julius Maada Bio would reassure citizens that national interests can transcend political affiliations and personal differences. He added that political leaders sitting together and showing mutual respect could demonstrate that political competition need not prevent peaceful coexistence or national development.

Samai said the Commission wanted the engagement to continue after the conference. “We do not want to see unity only at the conference,” she said.

She said the Commission wanted the President, former presidents and former vice presidents to meet to discuss peace and social cohesion, visit one another’s hometowns and attend formal and informal events together. Such interaction, she said, would help consolidate peace.

Koroma is expected to participate in the conference as a panelist, although his participation has not been confirmed. The Commission has said it wants the gathering to lead to lasting engagement rather than remain an isolated event.