By George M.O. Williams
Sierra Leone’s President Dr. Julius Maada Bio has on Thursday, August 8, 2024, joined the Office of National Security (ONS) to launch the National Security Policy and Strategy (NSPS).
The event brought together representatives of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and International Community at the Foreign Service Academy Hall, Tower Hill in Freetown.
The NSPS is a strategic framework and guide designed to ensure that Sierra Leone is prepared for and can respond to current and future security threats. The policy adopts an integrated approach to security and employs a model that can adapt to changing circumstances over time.
In his keynote address, President Bio said the policy established holistic approach to security through a well-developed national security architecture, adding that it will also strengthen security coordination mechanism and identify key security challenges confronting Sierra Leone.
Bio added that the policy will play a pivotal moment in the security of the country by safeguarding peace, prosperity, sovereignty and integrity.
Bio mentioned that the challenges of national security has become dynamic and multifaceted because of the penetration of numerous threats around the world into a country’s security architecture.
He cited that the threats including border management and security, environment, transnational crimes, among others, and called for robust measures to address those challenges.
Bio emphasised the importance of internal and cross border security strategies, adding that national approaches could be met will the allocation of resources, security officials become accountable to the people and collective responsibility of all Sierra Leoneans to support the implementation of that strategy.
Bio encouraged Sierra Leoneans to be vigilant and report suspected illegal activities. He said that by doing so they will have a unified and secured nation where core values are protected, and peace and security is embraced.
The National Security Coordinator, Abdulai Caulker, said that the National Security Policy and Strategy designed to safeguard the nation and people and to ensure a secured and stable country.
He added that the policy encompasses a wide range of measures and principles and a long-term unified national strategy, and opportunity to provide new social contract with a comprehensive and systematic approach to security.
Caulker noted that the policy will strengthen the security sectors through coordinated defence, intelligence, border Security, maritime, cybersecurity, policing and approaches that suit international standard.
The Dean of Diplomatic Corps in Sierra Leone, Lisa Chesney emphasized that the primary responsibility of any government is to protect it citizens, noting that every country has its own security strategy.
She pointed out that without the necessary resources the strategy will not succeed, thus admonished President Bio to provide the required resources.
Representative of Civil Society Organization, Dr. Fatu Taqi, cited that the policy is a manifestation that the country is going in the right direction, noting that it would guide the nation when making decision on security.
He encouraged everyone to take responsibility in the implementation of that strategy as it would enhance peace and national development.
“I Encourage all to work with the security sector, trying to love and protect the nation and embrace new development and safeguard the security of the country,” Dr. Taqi said.