By: Aminata Sesay
Sierra Leone has renewed its call for stronger African-led mechanisms to prevent conflicts before they escalate, with Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Mohamed Rahman Swaray urging greater emphasis on early action, dialogue and sustainable financing for peace initiatives.
Minister Swaray made the call while representing President Julius Maada Bio at the African Union Extraordinary Summit on Peace and Security in Luanda, Angola.
Addressing the high-level gathering, Swaray reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s commitment to strengthening Africa’s collective peace and security architecture, particularly through improved conflict-prevention mechanisms and more effective early-warning systems.
He stressed that early-warning mechanisms must go beyond identifying emerging threats and should be connected to timely and decisive action capable of preventing conflicts from escalating into full-scale crises.
The Foreign Affairs Minister also highlighted the importance of predictable and sustainable financing for African-led peace initiatives, noting that adequate resources remain critical to the continent’s ability to respond effectively to security challenges without excessive dependence on external support.
Drawing on Sierra Leone’s experience of transitioning from civil conflict to peace and democratic stability, Swaray echoed President Bio’s position that prevention should take precedence over intervention.
He identified dialogue, strong institutions and timely action as essential tools for addressing tensions before they develop into violent conflicts.
Sierra Leone’s intervention at the summit comes as the African Union continues efforts to strengthen its mechanisms for addressing conflicts and emerging security threats across the continent.
The country has increasingly sought to position its peacebuilding experience as a contribution to wider African efforts to promote stability, conflict prevention and democratic governance.
Minister Swaray said Sierra Leone remains ready to work with other African countries and regional institutions to advance sustainable peace and security across the continent.
His participation also underscores Sierra Leone’s growing engagement in continental diplomatic discussions, particularly on issues central to Africa’s peace and security agenda.
The Luanda summit provides an opportunity for African leaders and policymakers to assess existing mechanisms for preventing and managing conflicts while exploring practical ways to strengthen the continent’s capacity to address its own security challenges.
For Sierra Leone, the government maintains that lessons from its own peacebuilding journey can contribute to Africa’s broader search for sustainable solutions to conflict and instability.