Category: Opinions

Freetown, 12th March 2026-  Among Generals who stand tall when it comes to UN peacekeeping operations are Lt. Gen. (Rtd) Ishmael Opande of Kenya and Gen. (Rtd) Martin Luther Agwai of Nigeria. They served as Force Commander and Deputy Force Commander, respectively, at the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL), once the largest UN peacekeeping operation, with about 17,500 military personnel at its peak between 2000 and 2003.

As we celebrate International Women’s Day on Sunday, March 8 2026, the theme “Give to Gain” speaks clearly to us here at the Sierra Leone Maritime Administration (SLMA). In simple terms, the message is this: when we give support, we gain strength. When we give opportunities, we gain progress. When we give women a fair chance, our whole institution becomes better.

On 20 February 2026, His Excellency the President appointed Mr. Edmond S. Alpha as substantive Chief Electoral Commissioner of the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone (ECSL), subject to the approval of Parliament. That decision followed a consultation process that produced endorsement from 12 of the 14 registered political parties.

Juba Barracks was strategically established along the western coastline of Freetown because of its military importance. The Juba–Lumley axis sits directly on the Atlantic, providing a vantage point over key maritime routes and reinforcing coastal defense capacity. Its seaside location enables effective monitoring of maritime activity and supports timely operational response when necessary. The decision to locate the barracks there was driven by national security and logistical considerations, not by aesthetics or commercial interest.