The Ministry of Information and Civic Education (MoICE), in collaboration with the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion and other partners have held a planning meeting as part of ongoing preparations for January 18 Remembrance Day—a national observance declared by His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio to commemorate Sierra Leone’s civil war, which ended in 2002.
The meeting brought together peace activists, local NGOs and interest groups that have been working around peace and national cohesion. This is the second meeting in the last week, trying to agree on how to start commemorate the first ever remembrance day in the country.
President Julius Maada Bio announced the establishment of the Remembrance Day during the opening of the Salone Civic Festival in December 2025, describing it as an annual “day of reflection to deepen national cohesion and unity.” The observance aligns with recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Report, which called for a dedicated national day to remember the country’s years of conflict.
The Remembrance Day seeks to honour victims and survivors of the civil war, promote national healing, preserve collective memory, and encourage civic responsibility among Sierra Leoneans.
The follow-up coordination meeting, held at the MoICE Conference Room, brought together representatives from government institutions and civil society organization to develop the framework and programme for the national commemoration.
Speaking at the meeting, the Minister of Information and Civic Education, Mr. Chernor Bah, underscored the importance of remembrance in building a peaceful and united nation.
“The ambition is for this day to become part of our national consciousness—a civic mindset that allows us to reflect on the past while taking patriotic steps to do right by Mama Salone. We don’t want to forget, and we won’t forget,” he said.
Key resolutions from the meeting include the formal recognition of January 18 as National Remembrance Day, the designation of January 14–21 as National Remembrance Week, and the adoption of white ribbons or white clothing as the national symbol of remembrance, representing peace and reflection.
The Executive Secretary of the Peace Commission, Madam Hawa Samai, encouraged participants to view the initiative as a collective commitment to preserving Sierra Leone’s history for present and future generations.
Leaders representing different institutions also committed to take on several initiatives in line with the blue print that was developed to mark the day.
The Remembrance Day is expected to serve as a national call for unity, peace-building, and shared responsibility, ensuring that the lessons of the past continue to guide the country toward a peaceful and cohesive future.
