Dr. Samura Kamara, leader of Sierra Leone’s opposition All People’s Congress (APC) party, will deliver the keynote address at the University of Makeni today, May 1st, 2024.

The lecture, titled “Sierra Leone at 63: Is Politics a Hindrance? Navigating the Future: Democracy, Progressive Politics, and Inclusive Development in Sierra Leone,” will be held at the University’s Auditorium as part of the Independence Anniversary celebrations.

Dr. Kamara was selected as the distinguished guest lecturer due to his “exemplary leadership and growing influence as a committed democrat, people-centric leader, and an apostle of Good Governance and Inclusive Development in Sierra Leone,” according to a statement from the University.

The lecture comes after Dr. Kamara played a pivotal role in brokering a peace dialogue between the APC and the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) government.

The negotiations, facilitated by international partners including the Commonwealth, African Union (AU), and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), aimed to ensure lasting peace, democracy, and good governance in the country.

The dialogue stemmed from the APC’s decision to boycott governance functions following the June 2023 elections. The party had expressed concerns about transparency in the electoral process and called for the release of disaggregated polling station data.

The three-day negotiations concluded in October 2023 with a signed agreement witnessed by international partners and the Independent Commission for Peace in Sierra Leone. Dr. Kamara is credited with playing a vital role in securing this historic agreement.