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The British Peace Support Team (Africa), led by Steven O’Donoghue has presented a comprehensive three-year training proposal to Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mr. William Fayia Sellu aimed at enhancing Sierra Leone’s policing capacity and better prepare officers for complex peacekeeping operations worldwide.
At the meeting held on Thursday, February 20, 2025, at the Sierra Leone Police headquarters on George Street, O’Donoghue highlighted that the initiative is part of a UK-funded program under the Integrated Security Fund—Africa Peace Support Operations.
The initiative seeks to establish a sustainable framework for generating police personnel who meet the operational standards required for African Union (AU) and United Nations (UN) Peace Support Operations.
The project is designed to ensure that Sierra Leone’s contributions to peacekeeping align with evolving AU and UN standards, with a strong emphasis on promoting gender-balanced participation. Additionally, the training program advances the Sierra Leone Police’s strategic objectives, including improving service delivery, strengthening community partnerships, optimizing resource deployment, and enhancing its reputation as an employer of choice.
IGP Fayia Sellu responded positively to the proposal, emphasizing the essential role of training in modern policing. He noted that the United Nations’ missions are built on competency requirements, and such training would strengthen the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) capacity both domestically and in international peacekeeping efforts. He also praised Sierra Leone’s consistently high ranking in the Formed Police Units (FPUs) and Individual Police Officers (IPOs) categories of international missions.
The discussions coincided with the closing ceremony of an intensive eight-day Training of Trainers course at the Sierra Leone Peacekeeping and Law Enforcement Academy (SILEA). The course, titled Public Order Tactics Adviser Course, was designed to equip officers with the skills needed to manage public order situations effectively.
At the ceremony, Assistant Inspector General (AIG) Sahr Yomba Senesi, representing the IGP, congratulated the participants for their hard work and dedication. He praised the rigorous nature of the training and underscored its importance for improving public safety and fostering community trust.
“Over the past days, you have engaged in intensive training that has helped you understand crowd dynamics, communication strategies, and the importance of community engagement. These skills are critical not only for managing incidents but also for building trust with the communities we serve,” AIG Senesi stated.
O’Donoghue also commended the participants for their outstanding performance throughout the course, expressing his satisfaction with their progress and stressing the importance of sharing their newly acquired skills to further improve service delivery in their respective roles.
The Sierra Leone Police continues to receive international recognition for its contributions to peacekeeping missions under both the AU and the UN, with notable progress in increasing female representation.
The ceremony concluded with the presentation of certificates to the participants, honoring their dedication, discipline, and commitment to enhancing public order and safety.
