Sierra Leone marked its first-ever National Day of Remembrance on Sunday, honouring the victims of the country’s decade-long civil war that ended on January 18, 2002. The conflict claimed an estimated 120,000 lives and left thousands more injured or mutilated, leaving a lasting scar on the nation.
Speaking during the commemoration, President Julius Maada Bio addressed the nation, emphasizing the importance of healing and unity.
“For the first time in our history, we gather on a single day to remember our civil war and the heavy price our country paid for peace,” he said.
“From this day forward, January 18th belongs to every Sierra Leonean. To every victim and every survivor, I cannot ask you to forget. I ask only that, in your own time and in your own way, our nation may find the grace to heal fully, restore dignity, and move forward together.”
The Sierra Leone Civil War, considered one of the most brutal conflicts in recent history, began in 1991 as violence spilled over from neighbouring Liberia. Rebel forces fought government troops in a campaign marked by widespread atrocities, including mass killings, amputations, and other human rights violations.
Following the war, a United Nations tribunal indicted 23 individuals for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Among them, former Liberian President Charles Taylor was sentenced to 50 years in prison for his role in supporting the conflict.
The National Day of Remembrance serves not only to honour the memory of those lost but also to reinforce the nation’s commitment to peace, reconciliation, and the continued rebuilding of Sierra Leone.
