The Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces has had its ups and downs over the years, like all state institutions in the country, but it went through the most turbulent time in its history during the brutal civil war (1991-2002) that caused a lot of havoc to its human and material resources.
The war took many brave and talented army personnel, both officers and men and many barracks suffered devastating damage and others were completed wiped out and had to be rebuilt after the war. The rehabilitation and reconstruction continues till today.
Re-training of the fighting men, some of whom were hastily recruited and speedily trained at the height of the war became crucial as well improving their conditions of service including better housing, better pay and better medical facilities.
All of the above and more were encapsulated in a recent speech delivered by President Ernest Koroma to men and women of the Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) on Armed Forces Day (February 18) at Wilberforce Barracks in Freetown.
President Koroma reminded his listeners (soldiers and members of the public) of the rich and distinguished history of the Sierra Leone Armed forces who took part and are still taking part in many peace-keeping missions around the world. Soldiers from Sierra Leone also took part in both World Wars under British colonial rule although most of them never received a penny or any medals from the British government for their services.
President Koroma made some interesting points in this year’s Armed Forces Day address and one of those points was when he mentioned the newly created Armed Forces Tailoring industry and Agricultural unit. The Ministry of Defence spends billions of Leones on army uniforms every year but now with an army tailoring unit doing the sewing, costs will definitely go down.
Providing food, especially rice, the country’s staple food, to army personnel has always preoccupied the minds of successive governments in Sierra Leone and even neighbouring Liberia and Guinea where rice is also a staple food. Now with an army agricultural unit growing rice and other food items for the army, life can only be better for our men and women in arms.
The other interesting point is the announcement that women will from now on be recruited not only as ordinary soldiers but as officers as well. In the past most female officers in the Sierra Leone army were usually professionals like doctors, engineers and other professionals. Now they will be recruited and trained like any other officers but it is as yet unclear whether they will be sent on combat missions in the future. They were never on the battlefield during the war but were to be found in support services like nursing, administration and other equally important functions in any war situation. The rebels, on the other hand, frequently used women and children in combat.
Here is President Koroma’s Armed Forces Day speech delivered at the Hockey Pitch, Wilberforce Barracks, in Freetown, Thursday February 18, 2016:
Statement by His Excellency Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma, Commander in Chief, RSLAF, on the occasion of Armed Forces Day at the Hockey Pitch, Wilberforce Barracks, 18th February, 2016.
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,
We are gathered here today to commemorate our National Armed Forces Day; to raise our flag in remembrance of all the men, women and officers who gave their lives in the service of our country; to honour those who have helped preserve our freedom, to thank those who helped to bring peace back to our country and those who helped us to defeat the evil Ebola virus.
This is why the Armed Forces Day is not just another national holiday.
There is more to it than just the enjoyment of freedom and peace and stability. It is a special day with a great deal of historical significance.
It is a day in which we must oblige to express our difference to those heroes, whose legacy should inspire all citizens to acts of patriotism. This is why the commemoration of this day should focus on making the general public become aware of what the Armed Forces have done and continue to do on our behalf.
I am honoured to address RSLAF troops on this important day; a day Commonwealth nations have set aside to commemorate the bravery and great sacrifice of soldiers in the First and Second World Wars. In Sierra Leone, this commemoration has been modified to include remembrance of all other wars we have experienced as a nation, particularly the 11 year rebel war and the war against the Ebola virus disease. We are also celebrating the victory and honour derived from such sacrifices in those wars.
We owe it to ourselves to be thankful to our Armed Forces and to demonstrate that there is great honour in sacrificing for one’s country.
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, it is because of this recognition of the gallantry of our armed forces that my Government has given priority to improve the conditions of service and operational capacity of the troops. In the recent past, the RSLAF has gone through tremendous transformations especially in the areas of training, operations and discipline which have culminated in high levels of professionalism.
This is why the RSLAF continues to excel in a number of areas including Peace Support Operations both at the African Union and the United Nations. This is why we are proud of our forces contributions to peace keeping efforts in Liberia, Somalia, Sudan, Lebanon, and Haiti.
Owing to the outstanding performance of our troops, we have more than 30 officers serving both as Military Observers, Arms Monitors and Staff Officers in various UN Missions around the world. We have RSLAF staff officers deployed on MUNISMA operations in Mali and plans are far advanced for the deployment of another battalion - LEOBATT II in South Sudan.
My Government will continue to pay attention to the troops’ career development. Already, there are several training opportunities available to members of the RSLAF and they run across all ranks. To narrow the gender gap in the military, opportunities are also being created for women to be enlisted both as officers and other ranks so that they will be able to compete with their male counterparts.
I am heartened that you have established your own Armed Forces Tailoring Industry and the Armed Forces Agricultural Unit. I am heartened by the various self-help infrastructural projects you have embarked upon including the construction of Storage facilities, construction of Forward Patrol Bases, the Benguema Water Dam project, Expansion and upgrading of the Peace Mission Training Centre and RSLAF Drug Store.
My Government will continue to support these efforts and we will address the accommodation problem which our service personnel are faced with. Already, funds have been provided for the construction of 15 accommodation blocks each at the Wilberforce and Gondama Barracks. While the construction of an ultra-modern Barracks with all its complements will commence in Kambia in June this year, later this month, I shall be commissioning the newly constructed barracks in Gondama.
Distinguished Ladies and gentlemen, let me now seize this moment to extend my Government’s sincere appreciation for the diverse and invaluable supports rendered to the MOD/RSLAF by our friends including the United Kingdom, the United States of America, The People’s Republic of China, the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Republic of Ghana.
As we commemorate the gallantry of those before you and commend your noble service to our nation, let me remind you of your constitutional role in our national development, your role to defend our sovereignty, to maintain peace and stability. I wish you all a memorable Armed Forces Week Celebrations.
God Bless Sierra Leone, God Bless the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces.
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