Three officials of Sierra Leone’s Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion have completed a three-week seminar in China aimed at strengthening responses to environmental emergencies and preventing conflicts linked to natural resources.
The Environmental Emergency Response and Peace Seminar, held from 7 to 27 August 2026, was organized by the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China as part of the country’s international training and knowledge-sharing programme for developing nations.
The Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion was represented by Deputy Executive Secretary, Moses Margao; Deputy Director of Conflict Prevention Simeonette Uwanie Pontis and Senior Conflict Prevention and Mediation Officer for the North-West Region, Francis Patterson.
The programme brought together participants to examine environmental challenges and their potential impact on peace, security and community stability. Discussions focused on natural-resource management and the ways disputes involving land, livelihoods and access to resources could generate tensions when they are not identified and addressed promptly.
Participants also explored practical approaches to detecting, documenting and reporting emerging environmental concerns before they escalate into serious community disputes or wider conflicts.
The seminar highlighted the importance of effective early-warning systems, timely intervention and cooperation among Government institutions, communities and other stakeholders in addressing environmental emergencies.
Speaking during the closing ceremony, Vice President of Jiangxi Vocational University of Foreign Studies, Rao Jianhua, reaffirmed China’s commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation with countries across the world. He said such partnerships would support international efforts to prevent environmental emergencies and advance sustainable peace.
The three representatives of the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion received certificates upon completing the programme.
The training is expected to support the Commission’s mandate of promoting peace, preventing conflicts and strengthening national cohesion across Sierra Leone. Lessons from the seminar could also enhance the Commission’s ability to identify environmental and natural-resource-related risks that may threaten peaceful coexistence in communities.
Deputy Executive Secretary, Moses Margao, expressed appreciation to the Government and people of China for providing the training opportunity. He said the knowledge and experience acquired during the seminar would be shared with colleagues and incorporated into the Commission’s operations in Sierra Leone.
The Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion said it would draw on the lessons gained from the programme as it continues to strengthen early-warning mechanisms, mediation processes and preventive interventions.
The Commission is expected to apply the knowledge acquired to its engagement with communities where disputes over land, livelihoods and natural resources could undermine peace and national cohesion.
