By Mahamood Fofana
Governance and Research Centre urges continued investment in peace, justice and social cohesion
The Governance and Research Centre at the University of Makeni, in partnership with Agiamondo, has commemorated the 2026 International Day of Peace under the theme, “Invest in Peace, for Everyone, Everywhere and Every Day.”
The commemoration, held at the University of Makeni’s Fatima Campus, brought together community stakeholders, students and survivors of Sierra Leone’s civil war to reflect on the country’s peace journey and the collective responsibility to sustain it.
Project Officer of the Governance and Research Centre, Ellies C. Anthony, said the engagement was designed to provide communities, particularly war survivors, with a platform to share their experiences and contribute to ongoing peacebuilding efforts.
“Research is important to get evidence and help influence public policy, as we have heard from victims through their testimonies,” he said.
Anthony emphasised the importance of community participation in promoting peace, good governance and social cohesion, noting that the experiences of citizens can provide valuable evidence for policy and decision-making.
War survivor Mohamed S. Bangura called for greater attention to the concerns of victims of Sierra Leone’s civil war, urging the government and other stakeholders not to allow commitments made to survivors to be forgotten.
Referring to the Lomé Peace Agreement and recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), particularly Volume Two, Chapter Three, Section 367, Bangura said peace must be continuously strengthened through reflection and action.
“We can forget and can’t forget. This gathering is good as it is a platform to reflect and consolidate peace,” he said.
Despite his personal experience of the conflict, Bangura urged Sierra Leoneans to protect the country’s peace and reject actions that could undermine national stability.
The TRC Report has also highlighted freedom of expression as an important pillar of democracy, emphasising the need for an environment in which citizens can freely participate in national discourse.
Meanwhile, Robinda Aminata Mansaray, a Social Work student at the University of Makeni, said the commemoration offered young people an opportunity to learn from Sierra Leone’s painful history and understand their role in protecting the country’s peace.
“Peace goes beyond just the absence of war. To ensure peace, we should have unity in diversity, and injustice should not thrive,” she said.
The TRC has also called for the involvement of new partners in consolidating Sierra Leone’s peace. In line with this, the Governance and Research Centre used the occasion to strengthen community engagement, including through a health walk.
The commemoration served as a reminder that sustainable peace extends beyond the absence of armed conflict. It requires continuous dialogue, justice, inclusion, accountability and meaningful participation by citizens and institutions.
As Sierra Leone continues to reflect on its peace journey, participants stressed the importance of addressing the concerns of war survivors while ensuring that future generations inherit a society grounded in justice, tolerance, inclusion and dialogue.
