Lloyd Wasike
Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio has called for stronger reparations for victims of the country’s brutal 11-year civil war, declaring that apologies alone cannot heal the wounds of a conflict that left thousands dead and countless others physically and emotionally scarred.
Speaking at a national unity conference in Freetown on Monday, Bio directed the National Commission for Social Action and other relevant institutions to review and strengthen the reparations programme recommended by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
“Neither remembrance nor apology alone will meet their needs,” Bio said, stressing that survivors deserve more than expressions of regret decades after the conflict ended.
“I do not stand here to judge any person, party, or generation. But as President, I accept responsibility on behalf of the state for the protection of people who were denied,” he added.
The two-day conference, held on October 26 and 27, brought together government and opposition leaders to confront lingering divisions from the 1991–2002 civil war and chart a path towards lasting national reconciliation.
Bio also proposed six measures to strengthen peace, including establishing a national peace fund, deepening dialogue between political parties and introducing a code of conduct to promote peaceful elections.
The conference comes against the backdrop of a national unity agreement signed in October 2023 between the government and the opposition All People’s Congress following disputed elections. The agreement opened the door to political dialogue and electoral reforms.
Former President Ernest Bai Koroma urged the country to seize the opportunity to move beyond decades of political divisions and focus on development.
“It’s time for us in Sierra Leone to use this opportunity now; this is a great moment to move past our wounds and develop ourselves,” Koroma said, arguing that the country could not continue discussing peace and unity without making meaningful progress.
Sierra Leone’s civil war left tens of thousands dead and survivors grappling with devastating consequences, including amputations, sexual violence and the forced recruitment of children into armed groups. The conflict was also fuelled by struggles over the country’s diamond resources.
More than two decades after the war ended, many survivors continue to face inadequate compensation, limited access to healthcare and insufficient rehabilitation support.
A UN-backed reparations programme launched in 2008 provided limited financial assistance but fell short of the comprehensive support recommended by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
