Freetown, 22nd October, 2025 – In a solemn yet forward-looking ceremony at State House on Tuesday, President Julius Maada Bio launched Sierra Leone’s National Poppy Week 2025, transforming the annual commemoration into a renewed call for global peace and unity through service.
While traditionally observed to honour those who served in the First and Second World Wars and Sierra Leone’s civil conflict, this year’s Poppy Week took on a broader tone—recognizing the evolving role of Sierra Leone’s security forces in international peacekeeping and regional stability.
“This year marks 80 years since the end of the Second World War,” President Bio said in his keynote address. “But remembrance is not just about the past—it is about the legacy of courage and the responsibility we carry forward.”
The President paid tribute to the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF), the Sierra Leone Police, the National Fire Force, the Correctional Service, and the Ex-Servicemen Association (SLESA), acknowledging their contributions not only within Sierra Leone but across borders in ECOMOG and UN peacekeeping missions.
He emphasized that the sacrifices of uniformed personnel—past and present—must be matched by national unity and institutional support. “Our men and women in uniform are the embodiment of selflessness and love for country. Their service reminds us that peace is earned, protected, and shared,” he said.
The ceremony was attended by representatives from various uniformed services and civic organizations, including the Sierra Leone Scouts Association. It culminated in the symbolic pinning of the red poppy on President Bio by Maj. (Rtd.) Clarence Augustine Mac-Sesay, Public Relations Officer of SLESA.
Lt. Col. (Rtd.) Abu Bakarr S. Kamara, President of SLESA, echoed the President’s sentiments, reaffirming the Association’s commitment to honouring fallen heroes while supporting active personnel. “Sierra Leone continues to stand with the Commonwealth in remembrance, but we also stand with the world in peacekeeping,” he said.
President Bio also acknowledged the Royal Commonwealth Ex-Services League in the United Kingdom for its continued support to Sierra Leone’s veterans, and urged SLESA members to remain united and peaceful during the week-long observance.
As Poppy Week unfolds, the message from State House is clear: remembrance is not just a ritual—it is a responsibility. And Sierra Leone’s commitment to peace, both at home and abroad, remains unwavering.
