Sierra Leone marked 24 years since the official end of its civil war on January 18, 2025, a milestone that renewed national reflection on peace, reconciliation, and the unfinished business of justice.
The eleven-year civil war, which ended on January 18, 2002, claimed more than 50,000 lives, displaced hundreds of thousands of citizens, and left deep scars on the nation’s social and political fabric.
On the anniversary, political leaders, civil society actors, and survivors remembered the victims and reaffirmed a collective commitment to ensuring that such violence never returns.
As part of post-war healing efforts, Sierra Leone’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) recommended that January 18 be observed annually as a National Day of Reconciliation and Remembrance.
This year, President Julius Maada Bio formally honored that recommendation, drawing praise from various quarters for underscoring that peace is not merely a historical moment but an ongoing national responsibility.
Among those commenting on the occasion was Jesmed F. Suma, Chairman of the National Grand Coalition (NGC), who welcomed the commemoration while urging the country to confront persistent injustices that, he warned, threaten long-term stability.
Suma recalled the widespread atrocities committed during the war, including killings, sexual violence, amputations, and mass displacement. He noted that many Sierra Leoneans, himself included, were forced into exile, while countless families—his own among them—lost loved ones.
While acknowledging recent calls by national leaders for forgiveness and reconciliation, Suma cautioned that forgiveness alone cannot sustain peace if the underlying causes of conflict remain unresolved.
“Forgiveness without accountability and reform does not heal a nation; it merely postpones conflict,” he argued, warning that corruption, abuse of power, and institutional injustice continue to sow anger and resentment, particularly among younger generations.
He stressed that lasting peace must be built on justice, fairness, and moral leadership, principles he said were envisioned by Sierra Leone’s founding fathers and enshrined in the nation’s values.
According to Suma, history shows that unresolved injustice often becomes the foundation for future instability.
Suma also warned public officials against abusing state institutions, noting that in an era of digital records and collective memory, violations of citizens’ rights are increasingly difficult to conceal and will ultimately be judged by history.
He called on both leaders and citizens to recommit themselves to integrity, justice, and fairness, especially in the exercise of power, describing this as the truest way to honor those who died during the war and to respect those who survived.
“This is how we secure peace for generations yet unborn,” Suma said.
