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President Julius Maada Bio has honoured foreign peacekeepers of the ECOWAS Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) and the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) with the award of Grand Commanders of the Order of the Rokel in recognition of their pivotal role in ending the country’s eleven-year civil war.
The recognition was announced as part of the 17th Armed Forces Day celebrations, where the President paid tribute to thousands of African and international soldiers who served during the conflict, many of whom sacrificed their lives to protect civilians, defend constitutional order and restore democratic governance.
President Bio formally acknowledged the decisive role played by both missions, particularly in disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration programmes, as well as in supporting the democratic transition that laid the foundation for national recovery and long-term stability.
“I extend, on behalf of the Government and people, our deepest gratitude to the international community, our regional neighbours and all partners who stood with us during the darkest chapter of our history,” President Bio stated.
He emphasised that the struggle to restore democracy and constitutional order demanded enormous sacrifice. “The courage, resources and lives committed by our partners ensured that the will of our people prevailed and laid the foundation for the peace and democratic stability we enjoy today,” he said.
ECOMOG forces intervened following the 1997 military coup, helping to restore constitutional rule and protect civilians at a critical stage of the conflict. UNAMSIL later became one of the largest United Nations peacekeeping operations at the time, deploying tens of thousands of troops to implement the Lomé Peace Agreement and consolidate peace nationwide.
Key commanders who led multinational forces during crucial phases of the war included Daniel Bezalel Opande of Kenya and Martin Luther Agwai of Nigeria. Their leadership was widely credited with strengthening peace enforcement operations and stabilising the country in the final stages of the conflict.
The conferment of the Grand Commander honour underscores President Bio’s recognition of the solidarity, courage and sacrifice demonstrated by regional and international partners in helping to secure lasting peace.
