Beyond the Battlefield: A Blueprint for Lasting Peace Generals Ishmael Opande of Kenya and Martin Luther Agwai of Nigeria, both retired, played pivotal roles in the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL), which operated from 2000 to 2003 as the largest UN peacekeeping operation at the time. During their tenure, they oversaw the disarmament and demobilization of over 46,000 former combatants. The mission began after a decade-long civil war, which ended in 2002 when President Alhaji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah declared the conflict over at a ceremony in Lungi Garrison. At the event, more than 3,000 weapons were publicly burned, marking the start of the disarmament process. Two decades later, in February 2026, Opande and Agwai returned to Sierra Leone to receive the Grand Commander of the Order of the Rokel, the nation’s highest honor. Opande’s award highlighted his leadership in fostering trust among warring groups and protecting civilians during UNAMSIL. Agwai was recognized for his “hot spot” strategy, which enhanced disarmament efforts and strengthened peacekeeping operations. Sierra Leone has maintained peaceful transitions of power since 1996, with democratic elections replacing military rule. First Lady Fatima Bio emphasized the country’s commitment to peacekeeping, noting that Sierra Leonean troops, including women, are now deployed abroad to maintain stability. She reflected on the nation’s past, recalling how UN peacekeepers once protected the country during its civil war. Opande and Agwai visited regions previously controlled by rebels, observing significant socioeconomic progress. Agwai praised improved infrastructure, such as roads connecting towns to the capital, and noted the vitality of communities filled with young people. His meeting with Gen.#kenya #nigeria #sierra_leone #unamsil #abuja_agreement
Sierra Leone women prisoners win freedom through football-based reform project Sento, a mother of two, was serving a one-year prison sentence until a few days ago. On this International Women’s Day, her time behind bars has come to an end. She is among four inmates granted freedom by Sierra Leone’s Correctional Services. “I was arrested for loitering. They said they did not want anyone around the makeshift structure because criminals and drug users usually sit around those places. Since I had no one to help me, they took me to the cell. My husband also tried to help arrange my release, but he was unable to find anyone to assist him,” Sento told Africanews. The women were released following an intervention by the Football for Reform Initiative, a gender empowerment programme that uses football as a tool for social change and rehabilitation. “Over the past five years, I have had a relationship with the Freetown Women’s Correctional Center. And in those five years, we’ve been able to secure the release of about a hundred female inmates. They’ve also been able to engage in skills training while in the center; we provided that for them, and hopefully they can gain gainful employment,” said Isha Johansen, founder of Football for Reform. Johansen added that many of the women end up in prison simply for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. For the inmates released on Friday, the road ahead will not be without challenges. Supporters of the initiative say it is about compassion, rehabilitation and the chance to reintegrate into society. According to authorities at the Sierra Leone Correctional Service, more than 200 women are currently held in female facilities across the country, serving various fines and sentences.#sierra_leone #football_for_reform #freetown_women_s_correctional_center #isha_johansen #susan_baby_koker
