16/05/2026
Today, on the International Day of Living Together in Peace, the global theme — “Building Trust through Dialogue, Inclusion and Reconciliation” — feels especially relevant for Sierra Leone.
Trust is not built through silence, assumptions, or incomplete information. It is built through openness, consistency, consultation, and respectful communication with citizens.
Recent discussions around the reported arrival of West African deportees from the United States have raised many questions among Sierra Leoneans. People are asking:
• What exactly is the arrangement?
• Will deportees remain in Sierra Leone or be transferred to their countries of origin?
• Which institutions are managing the process?
• What systems are in place for security, welfare, reintegration, and accountability?
• Has the public been adequately informed and engaged?
At the same time, there is growing public concern about the increasing reports linking Sierra Leone to international drug trafficking activities. Recent reports of major co***ne interceptions connected to vessels departing from Freetown, and increasing public anxiety about organised criminal activity have deepened concerns about transparency, accountability, and national security.
Citizens are not wrong to ask questions. Responsible citizenship requires public engagement, but meaningful engagement can only happen when there is clear, timely, and honest communication from leadership.
When people are left to rely on rumours, speculation, or fragmented information, uncertainty grows. And where uncertainty grows, trust becomes difficult to sustain.
At Elba Foundation, we believe that responsible citizenship is a shared responsibility. Citizens must remain informed, thoughtful, and constructive — but governments and institutions must also recognise citizens as partners, not spectators, in national development.
Dialogue should not begin only after public concern escalates. Inclusion means people feel informed, heard, and respected. Reconciliation requires trust. And trust requires communication.
As we mark this important day, we acknowledge the progress the government has made through The Ministry of Information and Civic Education, and encourage even stronger public engagement, clearer communication, and more transparent governance across all sectors. Sierra Leoneans deserve honest conversations on decisions and developments that affect our collective future.
A peaceful society is not built merely by avoiding conflict. It is built by building trust.
