Sierra Leone: President Julius Maada Bio calls for rising above ethnic divides to consolidate peace.
President Julius Maada Bio, speaking at Makeni University, issued a powerful call for national unity in Sierra Leone. He urged citizens to reject tribalism and to treat administrative borders as simple tools of governance—not reasons for division.
For the President, ethnic diversity is a national strength, not a source of conflict. The wounds of the civil war (1991–2002) remain unhealed. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission documented how the centralization of power in Freetown marginalized the provinces, deepening these divisions.
He cautioned against politicians who exploit ethnic identity for electoral gain. Instead, he pleaded for a focus on real public policy—health, education, democratic governance, and economic well-being.
Above all, President Bio warned that identity politics threatens the hard-won peace. He called on the youth to build friendships across ethnic and regional lines. His message is clear: lasting peace cannot be signed through political agreements—it must be built through real reconciliation between communities.
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