Bio apologises to war victims and pledges 25m leones
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Sierraloaded
Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio has apologised to victims of the civil war and pledged an initial contribution of 25 million leones to the peace fund proposed in the 2027 budget. At a conference in Freetown on 26 October 2026, he also called for stronger reparations and announced a national peace framework within 90 days, according to Sierraloaded.
Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio has apologised to victims and survivors of the civil war and announced an initial contribution of 25 million leones to a peace fund proposed in the 2027 national budget. He made the commitments on Monday 26 October at the opening of the National Conference on Unity and Social Cohesion in Freetown, Sierraloaded reports.
Julius Maada Bio called on the relevant institutions to strengthen the reparations programme recommended by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and to publish a report on the implementation of its recommendations by 18 January 2027. He also announced that a national action framework for peace and cohesion would be developed within 90 days.
The president called for the inter-party dialogue committee to be strengthened, a code of conduct for peaceful elections to be adopted ahead of the 2028 vote, and peace education to be incorporated into schools. He reiterated that he would not seek another presidential term in 2028.
Former president Ernest Bai Koroma welcomed the reconciliation efforts and pledged his support. The UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for West Africa and the Sahel, Leonardo Santos Simão, also welcomed the rapprochement between the two leaders and the agreement signed in 2023 by the government and the All People’s Congress, the main opposition party, according to Sierraloaded.
These commitments build on the six measures for peace in Sierra Leone announced by Julius Maada Bio on 26 October.
