Freetown — Sierra Leone marked its first National Day of Remembrance on Sunday in honour of the victims of the country’s ten-year civil war. The conflict killed some 120,000 people and left thousands more injured or mutilated before officially ending on January 18, 2002.
“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,” President Julius Maada Bio said in an address to the nation. “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 war, widely considered one of the most brutal in recent history, began in 1991 when fighting spilled over from neighboring Liberia and rebel forces clashed with Sierra Leone’s armed forces. Over the following decade, atrocities including mass killings, mutilations, sexual violence, and the forcible recruitment of child soldiers became commonplace. In 2002, a United Nations tribunal indicted 23 individuals for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other violations of international law — among them former Liberian president Charles Taylor, who was sentenced to 50 years in prison.
The selection of January 18 for the National Day of Remembrance holds deep historical significance: it is the day President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah declared “D War Don Don” — Creole for “The war is over” — officially marking the end of hostilities after years of bloodshed. The day was formally established as a national observance in late 2025, following recommendations from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), which documented wartime abuses and sought a path to justice and reconciliation.
Across the nation, communities paused to reflect, holding interfaith services, moments of silence, and memorial gatherings. Many Sierra Leoneans donned white ribbons or cloth, symbols promoted by President Bio’s nationwide “white ribbon” campaign to signify peace and unity. Government notices emphasized that while the day is a solemn occasion, it is not a public holiday, with schools, markets, and workplaces remaining open.
In his address, Bio, a former soldier himself, expressed the dual need to remember the past and commit to a peaceful future. “We cannot erase what was done, but we can face up to it with humility, honesty, and courage,” he said. Survivors shared personal accounts of loss, resilience, and survival, underscoring the enduring human cost of the conflict.
Analysts note that the introduction of a National Day of Remembrance represents a cultural milestone. In a nation where memories of the war have at times been politically sensitive or contested, the formal acknowledgment seeks to foster civic engagement, national cohesion, and a shared commitment to preventing future conflict.
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