Zonal Points - APC

Alusine M Turay
Zonal Chairman
Makeni City

Zonal chairman Bombali District

Owing to his remarkable work in consolidating peace, rebuilding his country's battered infrastructure and because of his dedication towards a more inclusive and democratic country, President Koroma is continuously being referred to as a visionary leader.

For peace, security and national cohesion, he was visionary enough to better appreciate the need to adequately train and equip the country's police and military to the standards that qualified them to participate in international peace keeping missions. In essence, Sierra Leone, which hitherto was a recipient of the first world's largest UN peace keeping mission was now able, under the leadership of President Koroma, to give back to the world by sending peacekeepers to troubled countries in Africa.

Not surprising, therefore that, between 2010 and 2018, Sierra Leone, which had a recent history of conflict, eventually overtook countries in the subregion and Africa to become the most peaceful in West Africa and the third most peaceful in Africa. (Global Peace Index)

It was as a result of his sterling record of consolidating peace in Sierra Leone that the UN felt it was time for it to fold up its peace mission during which the then UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, described Sierra Leone as a storehouse of lessons for peacebuilding and peace consolidation in post-conflict countries.

In view of his exemplary credentials in peace building, President Koroma became a regular among ECOWAS peace envoys and he served in the ECOWAS delegation to the Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Ivory Coast. He also chaired the AU Peace Commission for two consecutive terms. The AU trusted so much in his diplomacy that until his retirement, he served as the Chair for its (AU) Committee of 10 for the Reform of the UN Security Council.

For ten years out of more than 50 years after independence, there was a great attraction and attachment to the country. From business to politics, tourism to returnees, the country saw more significant attraction from investors and politicians alike trying to relocate either their businesses or careers.

Even more impressive, there was an influx of individuals with citizenships in the world’s most significant economies like the United States of America, the European Union and Great Britain, renouncing their Citizenships to serve in various capacities including in the Sierra Leone's parliament.

The country had become attractive enough to create a reverse of what obtained decades ago when Sierra Leoneans scrambled out to the West in search of greener pastures or safety.

President Koroma further burnished his peace credentials when, out of respect for Sierra Leone's constitutional term limit, he presided over peaceful democratic elections in 2018, gracefully handed over power and retired to his hometown. And even with the undue harassment by the regime, he continues to cherish Sierra Leone's hard - earned peace.

By all estimations, President Koroma was, and continues to be, a champion of peace building and peace consolidation in his home country and across the continent.