By Nafisatu Olayinka Deen
Freetown, 9th February 2026- After Sierra Leone’s brutal civil war, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) was established to investigate the causes of the conflict, document human rights violations, and promote reconciliation. Beyond healing, the Commission invited Sierra Leoneans to imagine the kind of society they wanted to build post-conflict.
“The Commission looked to the past in order to tell the story of the civil war and to make recommendations to prevent a repetition of conflict. The Commission also looked to the future for the purpose of describing the kind of post-conflict society that the recommendations were designed to achieve.” TRC Report, Volume 2, Chapter 3, Section 524
The TRC emphasized a national vision rooted in accountable leadership, human dignity, tolerance, and respect for human rights. It called for an open civic space where citizens could engage in dialogue and shape the country’s future.
Disability Rights Advocate Abu B. M. Kamara believes Sierra Leone has made strides:
“The civic space is open and free considering the fact that even the criminal libel law has been repealed. People have freedom of speech; though social responsibility must be considered. The town hall sessions by the current government are laudable because citizens get to speak up. So, the civic space is open to citizens and there is progress.”
Yet, Ibrahim Tommy, former Executive Director of the Centre for Accountability and Rule of Law, cautions that the right to peaceful protest remains restricted:
“People should have the right to demonstrate peacefully and police should not stop them. People not being able to exercise that right is the biggest gap in the civic space. Aside from this, the civic space is healthy.”
Despite abundant resources, Sierra Leone remains among the world’s poorest nations. Freetown Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, who has expressed aspirations for national leadership, highlighted this paradox:
“In terms of resources, minerals, weather, and agricultural potential, Sierra Leone is probably one of the most endowed countries in Africa. But we are among the ten poorest countries in the world.”
She stressed the need for compassionate and capable leadership:
“To take Sierra Leone from where we are now, we need a leader who cares even after elections. Compassion and capacity are what will develop this country.”
Kamara also pointed to progress in education, noting increased enrolment and improved infrastructure. But he warned that politics, tribalism, and regionalism continue to divide the nation:
“Independent institutions that should be free from government interference are influenced by the government of the day. Service delivery becomes inefficient when this happens. We are not united because of political division, tribalism, and regionalism. Nepotism is another factor for unemployment.”
Elison John, Director of the Zero Corruption Campaign, acknowledged improvements in service delivery but underscored persistent challenges:
“Government institutions have made strides, but there are still significant gaps in healthcare, education, and justice. Corruption, inefficiency, and lack of accountability often hinder real progress.”
He added: “Sierra Leone is taking steps, but there is still a long way to go. More transparency, accountability, and youth engagement in governance would bring real change.”
Zainab Hawa Bangura, Director General of the United Nations Office in Nairobi, emphasized that Sierra Leone’s basic needs remain unmet:
“Our needs in this country are still very basic, ranging from access to good healthcare to quality education. About 70% of our people are engaged in agriculture, and although we have seven months of rainfall, we still cannot feed ourselves.”
She urged Sierra Leoneans to take collective responsibility:
“We should love our country if we want to build a Sierra Leone we can truly call home. Every Sierra Leonean has a responsibility to contribute to the nation’s progress and obey the law. Every leader must understand that developing this country is not a choice but an obligation.”
From civic freedoms to education, from leadership to accountability, Sierra Leone has made progress toward the TRC’s vision. Yet corruption, division, and weak institutions continue to hold the nation back. The question remains: can Sierra Leone transform its abundant resources and resilient people into a society defined by dignity, equality, and opportunity?
‘This story is brought to you with support from the Africa Transitional Justice Legacy Fund (ATJLF) through the Media Reform Coordinating Group (MRCG), under the project ‘Engaging Media and Communities to Change the Narrative on Transitional Justice Issues in Sierra Leone.’
