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The Eastern Regional Coordinator of the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion (ICPNC), Luke Kakpa Pessima, has led a regional team on a courtesy visit to the Bike Riders Union (BRU) office in Kenema.
The engagement forms part of the Commission’s ongoing efforts to strengthen collaboration with key community stakeholders, enhance public engagement, and revitalise the Peace Monitoring Network across the Eastern Region.
During the visit, the ICPNC team met with the Chairman of the Bike Riders Union, Kelly Mansaray, and members of the executive.
The team also engaged riders at the St. Charles Bike Riders Ground, a location where many gather daily before commencing work across Kenema and surrounding communities.
Addressing the gathering, Mr. Pessima explained the purpose of the visit and emphasised the importance of strengthening partnerships with grassroots actors in peacebuilding efforts.
He noted that bike riders play a critical role in community life, as they are often among the first to observe disputes, political tensions, and other developments that could escalate into conflict. Their daily movement across wards, chiefdoms, and villages places them in a strategic position to contribute to the Peace Monitoring Network and support early warning and conflict prevention mechanisms.
“Bike riders are an important part of the community fabric. Their continuous interaction with people and movement across different areas make them valuable partners in identifying early signs of tension and supporting timely intervention,” Mr. Pessima stated.
He reaffirmed ICPNC’s commitment to building strong partnerships with community stakeholders to promote peace, social cohesion, and stability across the Eastern Region and Sierra Leone as a whole.
In response, the leadership of the Bike Riders Union and members of the St. Charles Bike Riders Ground expressed appreciation for the visit and welcomed the Commission’s engagement.
They assured the ICPNC team of their support for peacebuilding initiatives, pledging to disseminate peace messages, encourage dialogue, and promote peaceful coexistence within their communities.
The visit highlights ICPNC’s continued efforts to strengthen grassroots peace structures and expand community-based early warning and conflict prevention mechanisms across Sierra Leone.
