By George M.O. Williams
The Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion (ICPNC-SL) has mobilised communities across all 16 districts of Sierra Leone for a nationwide peace walk to commemorate the International Day of Peace.
Held on Saturday, September 19, 2026, with the theme “Our Walk, One Voice for Sierra Leone”, the initiative brought together government officials, security personnel, diplomats, peace advocates and members of the public in Freetown, alongside similar activities in all 16 districts.
In Freetown, participants from the eastern part of the city assembled at Up-Gun Roundabout, while those from the western area gathered at the Cotton Tree in central Freetown. The two groups proceeded through different streets before converging at Kallon Park, Lumley Beach, where the peace walk ended.
Speaking at Kallon Park, Executive Secretary of the ICPNC-SL, Hawa Samai, commended participants for turning out despite the unfavourable weather conditions.
She said the turnout demonstrated a shared commitment to protecting Sierra Leone’s peace and encouraged citizens to make reconciliation and peaceful coexistence part of their everyday lives.
Samai stressed that the event was not limited to Freetown, noting that all 16 districts participated in the commemoration. She urged communities to embrace reconciliation as a means of preventing conflict and strengthening national cohesion.
Police Superintendent Samuel Saio Kamara described peace as one of the most valuable assets of any society and reaffirmed the commitment of the Sierra Leone Police to maintaining peace and security.
“The Sierra Leone Police is committed to peace and people should be peaceful wherever they are,” he said.
Representing the Office of National Security, Assistant Research Officer Columba Bono-Dick said Sierra Leone’s experience had demonstrated that peace goes beyond the absence of war, stressing that justice, inclusion and opportunity are also essential components of a peaceful society.
He said the security sector remained committed to protecting the country’s hard-won peace through measures aimed at strengthening human security, preventing threats to national stability and promoting national cohesion.
Bono-Dick further disclosed that the security sector would continue to strengthen early warning and early response mechanisms at regional, district and chieftaincy levels.
Irish Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Patrick McManus, described Sierra Leone as a beacon of peace, particularly considering the country’s progress since the end of the civil war.
He said Sierra Leone’s present circumstances offered an opportunity for the country to demonstrate that dialogue and peaceful engagement remain possible.
“Talking is better than not talking and dialogue is better than no dialogue,” McManus said.
The Nigerian High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, Ambassador Ayo Luther-Ogbomode, expressed Nigeria’s solidarity with Sierra Leone, describing the two countries as brothers.
She said Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the people of Nigeria remained committed to supporting peace and stability in Sierra Leone.
Ambassador Luther-Ogbomode also congratulated the ICPNC and participants on what she described as five years of peace and stability, while calling on young people to embrace peaceful coexistence as a foundation for continued national development.
Delivering the keynote address, Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Conrad Sackey, said peace was fundamental to national development.
“This peace march is important because without peace development will be absent. Peace is the first step towards development,” he said.
Minister Sackey also emphasised that disagreements should not necessarily lead to conflict, noting that people can hold different views while maintaining peace.
“We can have disagreement but we can still be peaceful,” he said.
Peace Ambassador Abubakarr S. Turay, popularly known as Shaddy Baby, urged Sierra Leoneans to continue building and protecting the country’s peace.
“If we want our country to prosper and thrive we must build and nurture peace. Peace is not an option,” he said.
Turay also announced plans for a political tolerance peace show at the Bintumani Conference Centre on October 23, which is expected to bring together representatives of different political parties to demonstrate their commitment to peaceful coexistence.
The nationwide peace walk formed part of activities marking the International Day of Peace and was aimed at promoting unity, reconciliation, dialogue and national cohesion among Sierra Leoneans.