Freetown, 27th April 2026— As Sierra Leone marked its 65th Independence Anniversary, Ambassador Alhaji Osman Foday Yansaneh, Acting National Chairman of the All People’s Congress (APC), has, in a statement from the party, delivered a message that blended patriotism with urgency, calling for unity, accountability, and decisive action against the growing scourge of drugs among the nation’s youth.
Speaking on April 27, Yansaneh reminded citizens that independence is rooted not only in the 1961 handover of sovereignty but also in the resistance of 1898, when Bai Bureh and chiefs across the country united against colonial oppression. “That moment in our history is a timeless lesson that Sierra Leone is strongest when united, resolute, and guided by a shared national purpose,” he said. “Today, that lesson is more relevant than ever.”
But Yansaneh warned that the promise of independence is under strain. “Political intolerance is rising. Trust in public institutions is diminishing. Many citizens feel excluded, unheard, and marginalized. This is not the Sierra Leone our founding generation envisioned,” he declared. Independence, he stressed, must mean more than symbolism; it must translate into dignity, opportunity, and hope in the daily lives of citizens.
The APC chairman raised alarm over what he described as a “national emergency”: the proliferation of dangerous drugs among Sierra Leone’s youth. “We are witnessing a generation slowly being consumed our young men and women losing their potential, our children exposed to harmful influences, and our communities weakened by addiction and despair,” Yansaneh said. He urged decisive leadership and coordinated action, warning that “a nation that cannot safeguard its youth is a nation that endangers its future.”
Yansaneh outlined a vision for renewal rooted in inclusive governance, accountability, and respect for the rule of law. “Governance must be inclusive, accountable, and responsive. National unity must be actively built, not selectively applied. The wellbeing of our citizens must take precedence over partisan considerations,” he said, pledging that the APC remains committed to offering constructive alternatives and holding leadership accountable.
He called on Sierra Leoneans across political, regional, and social divides to recommit to the principles of unity and discipline. “This Independence Anniversary must not be reduced to a routine observance. It must serve as a moment of reckoning and a call to action,” Yansaneh urged. “Let us reject division. Let us restore respect in our national discourse. Let us protect our youth from the scourge of drugs. The destiny of Sierra Leone does not belong to a few; it belongs to all of us.”
Closing his address, Yansaneh appealed for courage and collective responsibility: “If our forebears could unite in 1898 under far greater adversity, then surely we can unite today to correct our course and secure our future. Let us rise with courage. Let us act with purpose. Let us unite for the sake of posterity. Happy 65th Independence Anniversary. May God bless Sierra Leone.”
