FREETOWN – Sierra Leone’s Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion has issued a stern warning to political leaders and public officials over recent statements allegedly made by senior political figures, saying any language that could incite violence or threaten citizens based on their political affiliation is “wholly unacceptable.”
In a statement released on 23 April 2026, the Commission said it has taken note of reports circulating on social media and in public discourse regarding comments attributed to senior political figures in recent days. While the Commission said it is not yet in a position to verify the accuracy of every statement, it made its position clear.
“Any language, whether spoken in jest, in political rhetoric, or in the heat of campaign activity, that could reasonably be interpreted as inciting violence, threatening death, or dehumanising citizens on the basis of their political affiliation is wholly unacceptable,” the statement read.
The Commission said such language has no place in Sierra Leone’s democratic culture and stands in direct conflict with the spirit and the letter of the Agreement for National Unity.
The warning comes only days after the conclusion of the third Joint Assessment Mission of the International Moral Guarantors on 20 April 2026, which urged all political leaders, party executives, supporters, and citizens to exercise restraint and reject hate speech, inciting statements, and disinformation.
The Commission endorsed that call without reservation and said any departure from it is a matter of direct relevance to its mandate.
“No citizen should ever be made to feel that their life, their livelihood, or the safety of their family is imperiled because of how they choose to vote or which party they choose to support,” the Commission said.
The Commission called on all political leaders and public officials to exercise the utmost restraint in their public communications. It also called on the ruling party and all opposition parties to issue clear guidance to their members and supporters that threats and intimidation will not be condoned, and to apply internal disciplinary measures where such conduct occurs.
Law enforcement authorities were urged to monitor the situation closely and act promptly and impartially where credible threats to public safety are made. The Commission also called on the media to report responsibly and to verify statements before amplifying them.
The Commission emphasised that the central focus of all stakeholders must now turn to the full implementation of the eight-point agreement reached between the government and the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC).
“Inflammatory rhetoric is not merely a threat to public safety; it is a direct threat to the implementation agenda the nation has committed to, and it must not be permitted to derail the work ahead,” the statement read.
“Peace is not the property of any party. It belongs to every Sierra Leonean, and this Commission will defend it on behalf of them all,” the Commission said.
