By Saidu Jalloh | D.S. Reporter
Freetown, His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio has received the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion’s 2025 Annual Report and its 2026–2030 Strategic Plan, reaffirming government’s commitment to dialogue as the foundation of national development.
The presentation was made at State House in Freetown on Wednesday, 5 August 2026.
ICPNC Executive Secretary, Madam Hawa Samai, expressed gratitude to President Bio for establishing the Commission and for the continued support that has enabled it to deliver on its mandate. She described the last five years as both challenging and rewarding, noting that dialogue and mediation have remained central to the Commission’s approach to conflict resolution and trust-building.
“Peace is not accidental. It is the product of deliberate dialogue, reconciliation, and prevention,” Madam Samai said. “Your leadership has empowered us to intervene in difficult situations and to help citizens see government as a partner in stability.”
She pointed to the Commission’s contribution to the National Unity Agreement as a key milestone, and welcomed Sierra Leone’s re-eligibility for another five-year cycle of support from the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund as international recognition of the country’s commitment to peaceful conflict resolution.
Madam Samai cautioned that peace must be continually nurtured, and described the new Strategic Plan as a blueprint for expanding community engagement and shifting from reactive response to preventive action.
ICPNC Board Member, P.C. Sheku Tejan Fasuluku III, also commended the President, calling the Commission “a lasting investment in Sierra Leone’s peace and stability.”
Receiving the documents, President Bio applauded the Executive Secretary, Board, and staff for fulfilling their statutory responsibilities. He said peace and national cohesion are indispensable to progress.
“The establishment of this Commission fulfilled a key recommendation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission,” the President noted. “It is one of our administration’s most important contributions to consolidating peace and strengthening democratic governance.”
President Bio urged the Commission to deepen grassroots dialogue and reconciliation nationwide, and reaffirmed government’s support for its work through 2030.
The ICPNC was established to promote peaceful coexistence, manage conflict, and foster national unity across Sierra Leone.
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