AYV News, March 11, 2026
The Executive Director of Fambul Tok, John Caulker, has raised concerns over the role of advisers surrounding both the government and the opposition, warning that their actions may be worsening the current political tensions in Sierra Leone.
Speaking on the state of national cohesion, Caulker accused advisers close to President Julius Maada Bioand those around the opposition leadership of not helping to ease the situation.
He said selfish interests are increasingly becoming a major challenge for the country, stressing that peace remains the most valuable asset Sierra Leone possesses.
“The greatest treasure we have as a country is the peace which most people have sacrificed so much for,” Caulker stated.
He further suggested that the President should be given the opportunity to interact more directly with citizens in order to better understand their concerns.
“I hope the advisers around President Julius Maada Bio will give him a little breather to go around, avoid these too many securities, and talk one-on-one to the people to get the real feeling of what is happening down there,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary of the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion(ICPNC), Hawa Sally Samai, emphasised that meaningful dialogue between the government and the main opposition party, the All People’s Congress(APC), is essential to resolving ongoing political disagreements.
Samai noted that one of the key challenges has been the lack of consistent communication between both sides.
According to her, the opposition has at times raised concerns through social media instead of formally presenting them through appropriate channels, which makes constructive engagement more difficult.
She also highlighted that issues such as self-interest, greed, and corruption—concerns previously raised in the findings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC)—remain challenges that must be addressed.
“Our goals should be how we make Sierra Leone a better place,” Samai stated.
She added that while the government has indicated that some recommendations from previous political agreements are either being implemented or are ongoing, the opposition has maintained that it was not fully informed about these processes.
Samai stressed that the most important step toward resolving the disagreements is ensuring that both the government and opposition not only engage in dialogue but also take concrete actions to address the concerns raised by each side.
