By Amin Kef (Ranger)
The Defence Headquarters of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) has announced the appointment of Lieutenant Colonel Alice Koria Sesay as Commanding Officer of the 14 Infantry Battalion, headquartered in Pujehun. Her appointment, made public on Wednesday, 20th August 2025, marks a groundbreaking moment in Sierra Leone’s military history as she becomes the first female combatant officer to command a fighting unit within the Armed Forces.
Lieutenant Colonel Alice Koria Sesay, a proud Kuranko from Kabala in northern Sierra Leone, was commissioned in 2007 as a combatant officer alongside one other female and 21 male colleagues after completing rigorous training at the Armed Forces Training Centre in Benguema. Since then, she has built an illustrious career characterized by resilience, excellence and trailblazing achievements.
Her professional journey has been shaped by extensive training at home and abroad. Locally, she attended the Intermediate Staff Course, Junior Staff Course and Platoon Commanders’ Battle Course. Internationally, she pursued advanced military studies including the Regimental Intelligence and Security Officers’ Course in Freetown, Military Intelligence Basic Officers’ Leadership Course in the United States, Military Female Officers’ Course in China, Applied Security Studies in Germany and Comprehensive Security Cooperation Course in Hawaii, USA.
Academically, she holds a Diploma in Public Administration from IPAM and a BSc (Hons) in Business Administration from Milton Margai Technical University. She is currently pursuing a Master of Science degree in Diplomacy and International Relations at Fourah Bay College.
Throughout her career, Lieutenant Colonel Alice Koria Sesay has held diverse command and staff positions including Platoon Commander, Training Officer, Operations Officer and Gender and Equal Opportunities Officer. She has also represented Sierra Leone internationally, serving as Staff Officer for Data Collection in the UN-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) and later as Intelligence Acquisition Officer in the UN Stabilization Mission in Congo (MONUSCO).
Her appointment is the latest step in RSLAF’s decades-long journey toward gender inclusion. The Armed Forces first opened its doors to women in 1978 with the recruitment of 14 pioneering female officers, some of whom rose to senior ranks, including Brigadier-General Kestoria Kabia, the first trained female officer to achieve such rank in West Africa.
Subsequent milestones included the commissioning of Major Cecilia Munu in 2005, who later became Second-in-Command of 11 Infantry Battalion in 2022, setting a precedent for women in command roles. In 2019, the landmark “Special Female” recruitment spearheaded by First Lady, Dr. Fatima Maada Bio, enlisted 327 women, strengthening the female presence in the force.
Today, out of 1,022 recruits currently undergoing training, 227 are women; a sign of steady progress toward gender parity.
The transformation of RSLAF under President Julius Maada Bio has placed a strong emphasis on gender equality. During the commissioning of the “Special Female” squad in September 2019, President Bio declared the day as “RSLAF Women’s Day” and pledged to continue promoting women’s advancement in the military.
The First Lady has also played a vital role in championing the inclusion and recognition of female personnel within the Armed Forces.
By assuming command of the 14 Infantry Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Alice Koria Sesay has shattered a long-standing barrier, inspiring future generations of women to aspire to leadership roles within the military. Her appointment is not only a personal triumph but also a national milestone in Sierra Leone’s ongoing quest for gender equity and professional excellence in the armed forces.
