By Amin Kef (Ranger)
Sierra Leone’s Vice President, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, has called on citizens across the country to use the first-ever National Remembrance Day as a renewed national pledge to protect peace, deepen reconciliation and prevent the return of conflict.
In a message to mark the historic commemoration, the Vice President said the day represents a solemn commitment by Sierra Leoneans to “build a house of peace from the rubble of conflict,” stressing that national healing must not end with reflection alone but must be followed by concrete action and collective responsibility.
Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh noted that the theme: “Never Again” must not remain a slogan reserved for public ceremonies but should be transformed into daily practice through peaceful conduct, tolerance and unity, especially in communities still recovering from the painful effects of the country’s decade-long civil war.
“ ‘Never Again’ must be more than words,” he emphasized, urging Sierra Leoneans to promote reconciliation, strengthen national cohesion and choose dialogue over division, regardless of political differences, ethnicity, region or religion.
The Vice President encouraged citizens to honour the memories of those who suffered during the conflict by supporting one another, embracing forgiveness and building a stable and progressive nation where future generations will never experience a similar tragedy.
Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh made the remarks in Kailahun District, where he formally kicked off this year’s National Remembrance Day commemorations with residents of the eastern district, widely regarded as one of the places most closely tied to the origins of Sierra Leone’s civil war.
Addressing a packed hall filled with community members, local leaders, youth groups, women’s organisations and traditional authorities, the Vice President reflected on the significance of Kailahun’s history. He reminded the gathering that the district borders Bomaru, the town where the first shots of the conflict were fired on 23 March 1991, marking the beginning of the country’s 11-year civil war.
The Vice President described Kailahun as a symbol of both national pain and national strength, noting that while the district witnessed some of the earliest impacts of the war, it also represents the resilience of Sierra Leoneans who endured hardship and worked to rebuild their lives and communities.
National Remembrance Day, observed on 18 January 2026, was declared by President Dr. Julius Maada Bio, following recommendations from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). The day is set aside for Sierra Leone to reflect on the causes, course and consequences of the conflict, honour victims and survivors and draw lessons to ensure that the country never returns to war.
In his address in Kailahun, Vice President Dr Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh called for collective remembrance rooted in truth, healing, reconciliation and national unity, noting that peace cannot be sustained unless citizens remain committed to protecting it.
He also urged communities to teach young people the true cost of war, insisting that national remembrance must include education, civic responsibility and a strengthened culture of peace across the country.
Upon his arrival in Kailahun town, the Vice President, wearing a white ribbon and dressed in a navy-blue Africana outfit, walked through the crowd, warmly greeting residents. Witnesses said he shook hands with young people, women and the elderly, and spent time interacting with children, reflecting his message of solidarity with communities that bore some of the heaviest scars of the war.
Observers described the moment as emotional and symbolic, as residents welcomed the national leadership to share in the remembrance of lives lost and to reaffirm the country’s commitment to peace.
Beyond the commemoration activities, the Vice President Jalloh also inspected key Government projects in the district, including ongoing infrastructure works and road construction along the Kailahun–Koindu axis, as part of efforts to assess development needs and strengthen service delivery.
His visit to Kailahun also marks the conclusion of a three-day reconciliation tour of the eastern region, during which he engaged local leaders, stakeholders and community representatives in his role as Deputy Leader of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP). The tour, according to officials, was aimed at strengthening unity, encouraging peacebuilding and reinforcing Government commitment to inclusive national development.
With Sierra Leone having already observed its first National Remembrance Day, the Vice President’s message remains clear: the country’s peace is a shared duty and the lessons of the past must guide the nation toward a future defined by unity, stability and progress.
