Posted November 5, 2018 by Solomon Yarjoh

Kailahun Council,Chiefs in Joint revenue collection

The Kailahun District Council and the Council of Paramount Chiefs last Thursday,1st November,2018 in Pendembu,Upper Bambara chiefdom finally signed a Memoradum of Understanding for joint revenue collection.

Speaking during a one day stakeholders meeting organized by Kailahun Inlusive District Committee in collaboration with District Council,the Chairman of Kailahun District Council,Sahr A K Lamin informed the gathering that if Council wants to collect much needed revenue effectively it should work together with both traditional leaders and community members.He said one of the problems that had crippled revenue mobilization in the district has to do with sour relationships that used to exist among traditional leaders(Paramount chiefs,Parliamentarians,Councilors and community members

‘This has to change,and all of us should work together” he noted.He used the opportunity to call on the Inclusive Committee with support from Fambul Tok and UNDP to help resolve pertinent issues in most of the chiefdoms

Chairman Lamin signs the agreement(left) is PC Jajua

Hon.PC Cyril Foray Gondor heaped praises on Fambul Tok for its approach to resolving issues in a peaceful manner.He requested stakeholders to take the lead in development process.PC Gondor said revenue generation is very key to development and therefore all those concerned should work to ensure that they collect the much needed money

Chairman,Council of Paramount Chiefs,PC Mohamed Sheriff Coker Jajua on behalf on his colleagues requested for standing ovation for the Inclusive Committee for spear heading both peace and development process in the district

‘Today’s ceremony to sign the MOU started over two years ago.We want to thank Fambul Tok,Catalyst for Peace and UNDP for supporting us achieve what we are about to append our signatures to and hope this will be final stake for the beginning of sustainable development in our communities”PC Jajua re-emphasized

District Officer,Kailahun,William Ngegbai said revenue collection is the backbone of development and asked stakeholders to be part of the process

Executive Director,Fambul Tok International-Sierra Leone,John Caulker said what started over two years ago has come to fruition.He appreciated the efforts of the Inclusive Committee for facilitation the process to its conclusion.He called on everyone to help resolve the conflict in Penguia and Kissi Tongi chiefdoms

Before the parties signed the MOU,they agreed to open joint account at the Segbwema Community Bank and also the First International Bank in Kailahun.

Posted October 11, 2018 by Solomon Yarjoh

Civil Society calls on Fambul Tok to intervene

The chairman,civil society platform in Pujehun district and other stakeholders have requested Fambul Tok to lead the process of peace,reconciliation and development aspirations in the district

Speaking at a one day project inception meeting on UNDP’s sponsored three-month grant project “Conflict prevention and mitigation during electoral cycle in Sierra Leone” held at the Pujehun District Council hall on October 4,2018,Ibrahim Swaray lamented over the poor and uncoordinated fashion in which organizations handle vital issues in the district

He said Pujehun continues to face many challenges,one of them he mentioned relating to land in Malen chiefdom.Swaray went on to state that the Malen land issue has had no headway because most times those that pose to mediate sometimes end up to be part and parcel of the problem

The chairman said because of the method of approach in resolving issues,most communities do not have confidence in organizations and therefore recommends Fambul Tok,who deals with peace and reconciliation to lead the process in resolving problems in the district

The Sierra Leone Police leadership also commended Fambul Tok for its presence in the district to ensure peace prevails in communities. Supretendent

Inception meeting in progress

Stakeholders want FT in Pujehun

John Sesay said there are lots of issues and it’s timely for the organization to return to the district

District Officer,Charles Kailie expressed gratitude to Fambul Tok and called on its management to work with other organizations to ensure there is relative peace in the whole district

Chiefdom Speaker of Kpanga,Sylvester Kamara,also joined other stakeholders to welcome Fambul Tok and requested the organization to let its presence be felt even after the three months duration of the project.

Posted September 27, 2018 by Solomon Yarjoh

Community dialogues begin in post election Sierra Leone

Before the commencement of an Independent Peace and National Cohesion Commission earlier proposed by His Excellency,President Julius Maada Bio in the well of Parliament during his address to the House,Fambul Tok International and other civil society organizations in collaboration with the United Nations Development Program(UNDP) has commenced dialogue sessions in selected chiefdoms in the country.

community town hall meeting in Gbalahun

The crack cup demonstration by John

Vice President of the Republic of Sierra Leone,Dr.Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh as a commitment to the proposed commission requested UNDP,in collaboration with civil society organizations,to lead a coordinated effort for community dialogue and restorative justice,to ensure the return to peaceful co-existence and national cohesion

Two weeks ago Fambul Tok International-Sierra Leone started project inception meetings in Kailahun,Kono,Bombali and Moyamba and will continue in other project districts.The meetings explained the objectives of the small grant funded project-Conflict prevention and mitigation during electoral cycle in Sierra Leone and will engage district stakeholders to undertake post elections dialogue,conflict prevention and peace building.

Community town hall meetings started over the weekend in Gbalahun,Luawa chiefdom,Kailahun district.Gbalahun was hit by political violence which led to the burning of houses and displacement of people.

The town hall meetings continued in Kono,Bombali and Karene districts and will continue in other districts where stakeholders will express their views and concerns about post election issues and how to foster peace and development in their various chiefdoms.Other chiefdoms,especially Biriwa expressed concerns over land ,tribal sentiments and other issues.Peace Committees were also set up during each of the meetings

Outreach and mediation meetings will be on going to address issues that may crop up.

Posted September 11, 2018 by Solomon Yarjoh

Strategic Planning Retreat on “wan fambul framework” ends

Fambul Tok International-Sierra Leone(FTI-SL) and Catalyst for Peace(CFP) have ended a strategic planning meeting at the Taia Resort at Taiama in the Moyamba district for stakeholders.The purpose of the meeting was to update Ministries,Department and Agencies and stakeholders on progress of Fambul Tok’s work and the “Wan Fambul Framework”

In his remarks at the opening session,Executive Director of Fambul Tok International-Sierra Leone,John Caulker told his audience that an operationalized working relationship will be created and fund raising action plan developed during the retreat

Retreat in progress

He said Fambul Tok and its partners,Catalyst for Peace have been working closely with the people of Sierra Leone on peace building and reconciliation after the country’s conflict.He added that during the outbreak of the ebola they also worked ensure the gains already achieved in communities are not depleted.He said after the end of the virulent ebola virus they designed the People’s Planning Process(PPP) for potential donors and organizations working in Sierra Leone to involve communities in the post ebola development priorities to avoid the post war mistakes when communities were not involved in development activities

Caulker disclosed that the pilot phase started in Kailahun and rolled over to Moyamba and Koinadugu districts.He added that the PPP has two layers-chiefdom people’s planning process and the Inclusive District Committees(IDC) that is responsible to bridge the gaps within communities with district structures.He acknowledged the support of CFP for the past decade

The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development,Anthony Brewah in his statement said the work of Fambul Tok and Catalyst for Peace is laudable and the Government of Sierra Leone appreciates it very much.

The two day session discussed the presentation on the draft national framework which was followed by questions and responses.The thrust is to harmonize it with emerging national policies and plans,clarify and operationalize ministerial roles and responsibilities in relation to the Secretariat.The Ministers discussed the semantics of Government and community led in the document and asked for modification and insertions.

The people of Dasse chiefdom present their chiefdom plan

After presenting the metaphor on “cracks in cup”,Deputy Minister of Development and Economic Planning,Dr.Robert Chakanda asked whether it was possible to change the cup.The Minister of State,Vice President’s Office,Francess Alghali said “I see the cracks or cup as the whole country.We can mend Sierra Leone and not change it”.They looked at the omissions and gaps in the local government laws,local government service commission and called for review and better coordination to improve quality communication and avoid duplications

The retreat also discussed the roles and responsibilities of the various Ministries,Departments and Agencies engaged in local government and development.They identified challenges and promised to work together to resolve them.

The Director of Development did a presentation on the ongoing Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper IV.The discussions concluded that they must sit with the Local Government Ministry to clarify some details.They were also advised to look at past documents like the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.The Consultant of the Rural Development Policy dilated on his work.The group suggested to the Consultant to review the policy objectives to make them result oriented and to further consult other existing policy documents.

The retreat ended with the recognition of Libby Hoffman’s peace building work in Sierra Leone for the past decade.

The people of Dasse chiefdom,Moyamba district also presented their chiefdom plan

Posted August 28, 2018 by Solomon Yarjoh

Koinadugu eager for cohesion and joint revenue collection

Stakeholders in Koinadugu district are now very eager to make sure post election issues are quickly addressed for peace and cohesion which will create the atmosphere for joint revenue collection

In his welcome address on Saturday,August 18,2018 at a one day dialogue session in Kabala,organized by the Inclusive District Committee in collaboration with the National Framework for Inclusive Governance and Local Development,host Paramount Chief of Wara Wara Yagala,Kondowullay Gbawuru Mansaray 111,said the dialogue was timely as there are lots of issues to be addressed in the post election era

“We were expecting such meeting as elections are now over and all of us should work together for inclusive governance”Chief Mansaray emphasized.He said it has been very difficult for traditional leaders to work with District Council to collect revenue because they were not working together”

The new chairman of Koinadugu District Council,Alex Sorie Conteh referred to the dialogue as a blessing in disguise,adding that if they are not united it will be very difficult for communities to grow

“The primary objective of this meeting is to promote cohesion,peace and unity and a robust revenue mobilization”he said,adding the peace that will attract development to our district is solely our responsibility.Our development should be shouldered by us and blamed on us if we fail to our people

The audience at the event

Executive Director,Fambul Tok International-Sierra Leone,John Caulker said the whole idea of the dialogue is to create space for stakeholders to discuss pertinent issues affecting the district

Caulker said” There are lots of potentials in the district but if activities remain uncoordinated you will not realise anything,therefore part of the meeting will give you an opportunity on how to resolve issues and work towards joint revenue mobilization

He disclosed that President Bio,in his commitment to national cohesion promised in Parliament,the setting up of an Independent National Peace and Cohesion commission which will be charged with the responsibility of restoring peace and calm in communities especially those that were affected during the election era.He mentioned UNDP’s project which aimed at promoting peace in then hot spot election conflict areas within the next three months.

Paramount Chief of Kalian chiefdom,Foday Umaru Jalloh called for election related/land dispute issues to be resolved

dialogue session

District Officer,Koinadugu,Ajina Mansaray in his remarks lamented over political atmosphere in the district.He said there are lots of issues including tribe supremacy,boundary and land which need to be addressed.

At the end of the dialogue,it was resolved to restructure the Inclusive Committee to make it more effective which was done last week

Meanwhile another district stakeholders dialogue will be held convened on joint revenue mobilization before the end of the week

Posted August 27, 2018 by Solomon Yarjoh

Kongbora welcomes People’s Planning Process

Paramount Chief Alfred Saidu Ndomawa Banya together with chiefdom stakeholders has welcomed the inception of the People’s Planning Process(PPP) in Kongbora chiefdom,Moyamba district.

PC Banya and some chiefdom elders

The event took place at the chiefdom headquarter town of Bauya on August 11,2018.

In his remarks,PC Banya said he is happy that his chiefdom will be benefiting from the process,adding that the reputation of Fambul Tok is to bring peace in divided communities.

“We need them now,we still have a lot of issues in communities and if we don’t work together in peace to resolve these problems,development will not strife here”Chief emphasised,adding, though Fambul Tok had worked in four out of the ten sections,there is need to spread activities in the remaining six sections and we are ready to support every aspect of the PPP.

Fambul Tok Head of Peace Mothers,Lilian Morsay explained that the entire process is achored on on the experiences of the war,the ebola outbreak and the values of the organization.She said the main purpose of the PPP is to seal the many cracks in communities and prevent wastage of resources and efforts by NGOs and government agencies.

Explaining the concept of PPP

“We listen and learn from the communities and accompany them to find solutions to their problems…solutions based on good practices.Politics have divided people and communities-especially the past elections.So we need to work to create national cohesion to foster development”She advised

Moyamba District Council Deputy Chairman,Alfred Banya welcomed the new initiative and called for national cohesion and inclusiveness.He said Council will soon embark on consultations for the preparation of annual budget and therefore called on communities to comply so they may be included in development project

Communications Officer,Fambul Tok International-Sierra Leone,Solomon Yarjoh said NGOs and other agencies oftened embarked on development activities without consultations with beneficiary communities and therefore most of those projects did not succeed.

He lamented”Today we can still find around the tragedy of failures and wastages of resource all around in the form of white elephants.The PPP will be an initiative from you based on your felt needs and priorities.This is what NGOs,development partners and Council will use as blue print to support the chiefdom”

The launching of the PPP will be followed by community visits at sectional levels to ensure stakeholders convey the outcome of the chiefdom meeting which will be also used to collect lists of village representatives for the community preparedness meetings in all ten sections.

Posted June 27, 2018 by Solomon Yarjoh

Traditional leaders renew pledge to raise domestic revenue

The Inclusive District Committee(IDC) in Moyamba on Tuesday June 19,2018 called a meeting inviting all Paramount Chiefs,Councilors and community representatives to look at successes,challenges and the way forward for the next one year.

IDC Meeting in Moyamba

Explaining the purpose of such gathering,Development and Planning Officer of Moyamba District Council,who is Secretary to the Inclusive District Committee,Alhaji Ansumana Tarawallie said the meeting was to discuss issues surrounding revenue mobilization and progress made so far since Council and Paramount Chiefs signed the Memorandum of Understanding last year.He said last year event it was agreed that traditional leaders should help Council in collecting revenue in different forms in all chiefdoms and in return will be allocated 40% for chiefdom development purposes while Council gets 60%.

Vice Chair 2,IDC Sara Jalloh gives stewardship

Chairman Moyamba District Council,Joseph B. Mbogba explained the importance of raising domestic revenue,which according to him will boost more development of communities.He highlighted six key points in revenue generation such as Discovery,Assessment,Billing,Sensitization,Collection and Compliance

Chairperson,Council of Paramount Chiefs,Moyamba District,PC Debora Quee emphasised that though the agreement was signed there were challenges and called for effective collaboration for the 2018 financial year.

Executive Director Fambul Tok International Sierra Leone,John Caulker said every Council is a gateway to development of every district.He said though the agreement was not fully complied with as specified in the document,everyone needs to come onboard and ensure compliance in 2018

However various speakers including Councilors and community representatives made contributions as to how they should all work to improve revenue generation

The MOU was signed by PC Debora Quee,Chief Administrator and Chairman Moyamba district

Posted April 24, 2018 by Solomon Yarjoh

Kailahun Inclusive District Committee reconcile APC, SLPP

The Kailahun Inclusive District Peace and Development Committee, has as one of the mandates to coordinate all peace and development initiatives in the district in a way that helps all existing sectors,fulfilled their purpose in providing service to communities and facilitating healing and reconciliation in communities.This structure(IDPDC) which was formed three years ago is supported by Fambul Tok and Catalyst for Peace

Reconciliation at work

During the electioneering process,there were reported cases of political violence and threats among members of the All People’s Congress and the Sierra Leone People’s Party in Kissi Teng chiefdom,Kailahun district.This caused serious tensions,especially in Bumassadu and Lela section.

Allegations are that some members of SLPP had threatened APC and promised to deal with them because of utterances during campaign period.Some members of APC were said to have equally threatened SLPP supporters

Immediately after the National Electoral Commission officially announced the results declaring the SLPP candidate winner on April 4,2018,SLPP members and supporters went into wild jubilation.This increased tension in Kangama town.

Residents reported that some members of APC who had earlier made sarcastic commentswent into hiding for fear of reprisals.This continued for a couple of days.The entire chiefdom seemed to be on a ticking time bomb more especially when the Paramount Chief was not available to adress the issue

Peace meeting in progress

Because of this trend,the Committee decided to handle the situation by organizing peace and reconciliation meeting in Kangama last Friday,April 20

In his remarks,District Officer,Kailahun,William Ngegbai said the meeting was timely as the entire chiefdom was under serious security threat since the pronouncement of Presidential results

He called on members of both APC,SLPP and other stakeholders to ensure there is stability in the chiefdom

‘You dont need to fight or intimidate each other because all of you are from this chiefdom and in one way or the other are related’ Ngegbai cautioned

He emphasised that ‘ when President Bio took over,he said he is not President for SLPP or APC but for everyone in the country and therefore there is no need to attack one another

The DO called on the people of Kissi Teng to be law abiding and not to take the law into their hands

Paramount Chief calling for peaceful resolution

Acting chairman of IDC,Madam Isata Ndolleh Kaikai catalogued success stories of the Committee since its inception three years ago.She said one of the mandates of the committee is to facilitate peace and reconciliation in communities and that was why they decided to organize such meeting in Kangama

She stated that similar meetings were held in Dia,Kissi Kama and Baoma in Luawa chiefdoms

In his remarks,Paramount Chief Emmanuel Ganawa said he was not surprised as Fambul Tok preaches peace and reconciles people

He lamented over the the ugly situation in his chiefdom,adding had it not being the timely intervention of IDCit would have been a different story.He called on his people to bury the hatchet and reaim peaceful

APC chairman,Foday Koroma called for peace to be restored in thec chiefdom.He pledged his party’s quest for peace in the country

SLPP representative,Mary Lamin equally called for calm and admonished supporters to remain peaceful

Office of National Security representative Tamba Lamin also cautioned anyone that wants to perpetrate violence again after the meeting not to do so as it will detrimental to the individual

The meeting ended with broad smiles as both members of the two parties hugged one another.

Posted April 10, 2018 by Solomon Yarjoh

Sierra Leone’s 2018 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections end

CREDIT:Mariama Kargbo

Characterized by sporadic violence and hate messages the first round of elections ended with anxiety.However,the Presidential election was too close to call.

Such that Marie,a peace mother in Bombali district said ‘we cannot go down this road on regional politics…our country is too small for this…we should not repeat the mistakes of Rwanda in 1994 where thousands of people were slaughtered when two tribes clashed’

Fambul Tok,together with Catalyst for Peace and the USAID,filled the void.They launched elections non violence sensitization through jingles,radio discussions,posters,printing of T- shirts and hand bills.These sensitization programmes were slated for both pre and post elections in the Western area and the operative districts of Fambul Tok( Bombali,Kono,Kailahuna and Pujehun) by Peace mothers,Community Welfare and Mediation Committees supported by staff and local community committees.

Press Conference held to gave update

John Caulker,the Executive Director of Fambul Tok International-Sierra Leone gave series of press conferences and radio talks on the responsibilities of his organization in ensuring free,fair and peaceful elections.Every staff of the organization was a local observer at their various stations.Although small incidences of violence; mostly in parts of the provinces were reported and investigated by the Police,the elctions were generally acclaimed to be peaceful and transparent.

Neither of the main contenders-the All People’s Congress and the Sierra Leone’s People’s Party achived the 55% polls requirement in the March 7 polls.The opposition SLPP narrowly led the APC,thereby triggering a run off.

The two main Presidentila aspirants:Dr.Samura Kamara of the ruling APC and Brigadier Rtd. Julius Maada Bio of the SLPP signed the February 28,2018 declaration,and travelled the country to preach peace and avoid tribal messages during run off of March 27.

The Presidential election was deffered to March 31,2018 owning to a legal action against the National Electoral Commission by Lawyer Ibrahim Sorie Koroam,a member of the APC.He asked the court for an injunction to restrain the country’s electoral body from conducting the run off elections,and also order the Auditor General to conduct a forensic audit on the internal systems of NEC

Peace Mothers on community sensitization

The Supreme Court presided over by Chief Justice Abdulai Charm threw out the case .The election went on March 31st.Brigadier Rtd Julius Maada Bio polled 51.82% and was sworn in as President of the Republic of Sierra Leone by Chief Justice Abdulai Charm on April 4th,2018.He is the country’s fourth democratically elected President since the eleven year civil conflict that ended in 2002

Posted March 28, 2018 by Solomon Yarjoh

Peace Mothers play vital roles in Sierra Leone’s 2018 elections

Fambul Tok Peace Mothers,equipped with communication skills and clear understanding of peace messages were able to convince community members to see reason not to engage in any form of violence before and even after the pronouncement of results.

Peace Mother controlling the queue on election day

Havinggone through vigorous training on various topics relating to peace building and to ensure Sierra Leone’s 2018 elections are violence free,Peace Mothers played major roles during the first phase of the country’s multitier elections.

With support from USAID,through the Reacting to Early Warning and Response Data(REWARD) project in Bombali,Kailahun,Kono and Pujehun districts,Peace Mothers embarked on varius community engagement activities such as chiefdom meetings,convening youths,women folks and traditional leadrs to talk on preventing violence before and after elections

Peace mothers sensitising people

In Pujehun for instance,Peace Mothers in Pessekeh section,Kpanga chiefdom were helping to control people in the queues and encouraged restless voters to be patient.They also assist the aged to reach voting centres

In Tankoro chiefdom,Kono district,Peace Mothers in thier pre election messages preached non violence and their presence was felt at most centres in the chiefdom on election day,talking to people to remain calm.They did similar work in Gbense,Nimiyama and Goramac chiefdoms

‘Instead of organizations wasting money unnecessarily on failed projects during electioneering periods,they should focus to ensure peace and stability in communities through such project.This USAID’s REWARD project has created impacts in our communities more than anyother project in Kono district’…says Kathy Changa,peace mother in Faada,Gbense chiefdom

In Bombali,both Community Welfare and Mediation Committee members in collaboration with peace mothers worked together on various activities.In Bombali Shebora chiedom women went out very early on election day calling on voters to be peaceful.They encouraged those in queues to allow disabled,aged,pregnant women and suckling mothers to vote first and not stand in the long queues for long.These categories of people were allowed without problems.Other chiefdoms including Paki Masabong,Makari Gbanti and Biriwa also played significant roles in the electioneering process.

Also in Kailahun district,Peace mothers and CWMCs in Upper Bambara,Njaluahun,Luawa and Kissi Teng stirred the reins in mobilising communities to remain peaceful in a district that had long been identified as hot spot during election time.

Other chiefdoms in Fambul Tok operational Districts,who were not part of REWARD project played lead roles in the electioneering process by also working with community structures such as peace mothers and CWMCs.The chiefdoms are Fakunya and Dasse in Moyamba district, Delmandugu in Falaba district and Kasunko in Koinadugu

Generallly,there were no reports of major incidents on election day in any of the 16 supported chiefdoms and also Moyamba,Falaba and Koinaduugu districts