Post a comment 
Sierra Leone’s President, Dr. Julius Maada Bio has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to peace, national cohesion, and democratic governance as international moral guarantors reviewed progress on the Agreement for National Unity.
The President made the statement at State House in Freetown on Friday, April 17, 2026, during a courtesy visit by a delegation of international guarantors tasked with assessing the implementation of the agreement between the Government of Sierra Leone and the opposition All People’s Congress (APC).
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Shodankeh Johnson, Board Chairman of the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion, said the visit was intended to evaluate progress made so far and to follow up on recommendations by the Tripartite Committee. He noted that the delegation’s role was to ensure continued dialogue and accountability in the implementation process.
Vice President Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh briefed the President on recent engagements between the government, the guarantors, and the APC. He assured the visiting team that the government remains committed to constructive dialogue and sustained cooperation.
Lead Moral Guarantor Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang reiterated that the delegation’s mission was to evaluate implementation progress and support ongoing dialogue. She commended President Bio’s leadership, noting his contributions to peace and stability both in Sierra Leone and within the wider ECOWAS region.
“We need leaders like you in Africa. You have provided the space for dialogue and engagement,” she said, while highlighting areas of consensus reached during recent discussions with the opposition.
In his response, President Bio expressed appreciation for the delegation’s continued involvement and emphasized his long-standing commitment to national stability. “I have always viewed Sierra Leone not through a political lens, but through a development and peace lens,” he said.
The President stressed that the electoral reform process was initiated to promote transparency and inclusivity, with international partners serving as neutral arbiters. He reiterated his support for proportional representation, describing it as a system that enhances fairness and inclusion.
He also pointed to key reforms undertaken by his administration, including the abolition of the death penalty and the repeal of the seditious libel law, as evidence of his government’s commitment to strengthening democratic governance.
Calling for greater unity, President Bio urged Sierra Leoneans to extend the country’s tradition of religious tolerance into the political sphere. He reaffirmed his vision of transforming Sierra Leone into what he described as an “oasis of peace.”
The visit by the international guarantors underscores ongoing efforts to consolidate peace and promote inclusive governance in Sierra Leone, with the President positioning dialogue and reform as central to the country’s democratic progress.
