Gambiaj.com – (FREETOWN, SIERRA LEONE) – President Julius Maada Bio has ruled out seeking a third term as Sierra Leone’s president, declaring that he will leave office after the 2028 election and hand power to the candidate chosen by voters.
Bio made the announcement on Monday at the opening of a National Conference on Unity and Social Cohesion in Freetown, where he also apologized to victims of Sierra Leone’s civil war and announced new measures aimed at strengthening reparations, reconciliation and conflict prevention.
“I will not be a candidate in the 2028 presidential election,” Bio told delegates, reaffirming his commitment to the Constitution and to a peaceful transfer of power.
The declaration removes a major source of uncertainty ahead of the 2028 election and places the focus on how Sierra Leone’s next political transition will be managed after years of efforts to consolidate peace.
An Apology To War Victims
Addressing survivors, bereaved families and others affected by the conflict, Bio offered an apology on behalf of the state for its failure to protect citizens during the war.
“On behalf of the State of Sierra Leone, I apologize for the suffering you endured and for the protection you did not receive,” he said.
The president argued that lasting peace requires more than political stability and regular elections, saying national unity must also be reflected in justice, inclusion, public accountability and better access to education, healthcare, employment and food security.
His government has instructed the National Commission for Social Action and other relevant institutions to review and strengthen the reparations program recommended by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Bio also ordered the publication, by January 18, 2027, of a public report on the implementation of the commission’s recommendations.
Reparations And Peacebuilding
The Ministry of Health was asked to work with the Peace Commission and religious communities to expand mental health and psychosocial support for people still affected by trauma from the war.
Other proposals include a national framework for peace and social cohesion, a fund to support community peacebuilding initiatives and a stronger inter-party dialogue committee.
Bio also called for political parties to adopt a code of conduct for peaceful elections ahead of the 2028 vote.
Civic and peace education would be introduced in schools, while a National Peace Week and preparations for a national peace memorial are also planned.
The commemorative week is expected to culminate on January 18, 2027, marking 25 years since the end of the civil war.
A Peaceful Political Transition
Former president Ernest Bai Koroma, who also attended the conference, called for greater collective ownership of the peace process and urged Sierra Leoneans to use dialogue to resolve political and social disputes.
He welcomed Bio’s peace initiatives and offered his experience to efforts aimed at strengthening national cohesion.
Representatives of the United Nations, ECOWAS, the diplomatic community and civil society also participated in the conference.
But while Bio’s decision not to seek another term provides a clear constitutional commitment ahead of 2028, the durability of Sierra Leone’s peace will ultimately depend on whether the government can turn its promises on reparations, inclusion and political dialogue into tangible results for victims and communities.
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