By: Alusine Rehme Wilson – (AR-WILSON)✍️
Following the recent riots in Makeni that led to the lost of six souls, Campaign for Human Rights and Development International West African (CHRDI) and the West African Network for Peace Building in collaboration with the Government of Sierra Leone have held a day Public Advocacy and Community Sensitization with the people of Makeni, Bombali District in the Northern Region of Sierra Leone.
The day’s engagement which was held at the Makeni City Council Hall along station road, attracted the attention of the Paramount Chief of Gbanti Chiefdom, PC Masayali N’tham III, the Commander of the 4th Infantry Brigade, representatives of the Makeni Union of Youth Groups, the City Mayor, Political parties, PPRC, APPA, Journalists among other representatives were from Ministries, Agencies and Departments in the municipality unanimously added their voices to the discussion, mourned the death of the fallen souls at the same time condemned the actions of some furious youths that took upon themselves to riot in trying to resist Governments officials from the Energy Ministry from relocating a standby generator to the Lungi International airport.
The attendees stated various causes which they say which led to the unprecedented rioting and shooting between irate youths and security troops in July in municipality of Makeni and also recommended possible ways of avoiding similar occurrence.
CHRDI’s Abdul Fatorma, was chairman of the occasion. He delivered the campaign’s peace messages for national social cohesion did re-echo the various statements and opinions shared by the stakeholders, journalists and young people that attended the event.
On behalf of CHRDI, Fatorma praised the people of Makeni for deliberating frankly in the stakeholders meeting and further noted, that they are thankful and very much pleased to have partnered with the Government of Sierra Leone and expressed thanks to the United Nations Development Program for providing them the much needed fund to undertake the campaign.
“Government is duty, bound constitutionally to protect its citizens and ensure there is peace and stability in the country, similarly the UNDP has huge interests in promoting peace and development in Sierra Leone which is why we will be sharing our report with them and follow up that positive steps are taken to prevent a reoccurrence of the July, 2020 Makeni incident in the nearest future.
At the interactive and mind blowing engagement, Political parties representatives and young people did accept the Youths over reacted in trying to protect the standby generation from going to Lungi, which they thought was their property and that they should protect it and pledges were made to prevent future occurrences in the municipality which they maintained has been a law abiding and very peaceful city until their representatives, partners and MDAs began to neglect them by hiding relevant public information and stop communicating to them.
Going forward, political parties, youths, the police, military and representatives of the people occupying public positions of trust were admonished to share love among one another to enhance peace and development in the country.
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