A four-day assessment mission by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union (AU), and the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) concluded.

The mission aimed to evaluate the progress made in implementing the Agreement for National Unity (ANU), signed in October 2023 between the government and the opposition All People’s Congress (APC) party.

Co-led by former Gambian Vice President Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang and UNOWAS head Leonardo Santos Simão, the mission met with President Julius Maada Bio, opposition leaders, government officials, and civil society representatives. Discussions focused on challenges faced in implementing the ANU’s eight resolutions, the importance of ongoing dialogue, and the threat posed by misinformation on social media.

The mission acknowledged progress, citing a joint statement issued on June 19th by stakeholders pledging to uphold democratic principles. However, concerns were raised regarding the spread of disinformation.

The international community urged all parties to prioritize the full implementation of the ANU resolutions. They called on development partners to maintain and increase their support for Sierra Leone and reiterated their commitment to supporting the peace process.

The mission also encouraged political actors and citizens to prioritize national unity and stability over partisan interests. They acknowledged requests from stakeholders for more frequent visits to ensure the smooth implementation of the agreement.

The mission concluded by expressing gratitude to the leadership of ECOWAS and the African Union for facilitating their visit.