The Ministry of Information and Civic Education has released the full schedule for the 2025 Salone Civic Festival, outlining a three-day program designed to promote civic awareness, national dialogue, youth engagement and cultural expression.

According to the official agenda published by the Ministry, the festival will run from 11 to 13 December 2025, featuring townhalls, plenaries, educational sessions and public performances.

Day One, scheduled for 11 December, will open with a Civic Awareness March Pass from 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., followed by the Feed Salone Civic Townhall from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Side events, including a Civic Hackathon and Higher Education Training with Columbia University, will run from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. The Ministry’s agenda indicates that the official opening ceremony will take place from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., featuring a keynote address by H.E. the President Julius Maada Bio.

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An inspection of booths is expected to be conducted from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., and the day will end with a Salone Civic Movie Night from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Activities on Day Two, 12 December, will begin with an Opening Plenary by Chief Minister Dr. Sengeh, who will also lead a civic townhall on data trends and youth empowerment from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. After a lunch break scheduled for 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., the festival will host a Human Capital Development Townhall from 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

A side event focusing on Advancing SRHR with UNFPA will run from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The Inter-School Quiz and Debate Final is scheduled from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., and the day will conclude with a Youth Creative Night from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

The final day, 13 December, will feature a major civic townhall on the new constitution, new census and new localities from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. A UNESCO-supported side event titled Learning from Violent Past will follow from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

The festival’s Closing Plenary will run from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., led by Hon. Vice President Dr. Juldeh Jalloh, who will also preside over a civic townhall on the national economy and productive sectors. The festival will end with a Peace and Unity Concert from 7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., featuring performances by top national and regional artists.

Throughout the festival, booths and exhibitions will be open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., according to the Ministry’s published schedule.

Ahead of the event, Information Minister Chernor Bah has successfully mediated a scheduling conflict involving the country’s Peace Ambassador, Alhaji Amadu Bah (Boss LA), and Entertainment Ambassador, Amara Denis Turay (Kao Denero).

Tensions rose after both were invited to the festival, which coincided with Kao Denero’s scheduled launch of his new album, All Game Final, at Number 2 River on December 13.

Speaking to Liberty Online TV, Minister Bah assured the public that the government does not discriminate between the two appointees.

“The role of the Ministry of Information and Civic Education is to ensure that both parties remain peaceful,” Bah said. “I have no problem with them having their differences, as long as the rivalry remains healthy and economical.”

To resolve the conflict, the Minister facilitated a video call between the two artists. As part of the agreement, Kao Denero will make a special appearance at the Civic Festival on December 12, allowing him to proceed with his own album launch on December 13.

The Ministry also announced that the two ambassadors are collaborating on a peace song to symbolize unity in the entertainment sector.