Peace committee brokers reconciliation in Lower Bambara after election tensions

A local peace committee in eastern Sierra Leone has brokered a reconciliation agreement among rival political actors in Lower Bambara Chiefdom following tensions linked to recent lower-level elections, participants said.
The Peace Committee of the Lower Bambara Descendants Association (LoBDA) met at the Tower Hill office of Ambassador Soulay B. Daramy in Freetown, bringing together key stakeholders including Member of Parliament Rugiatu Tarawally Mussafa and local political figures from Constituency 015.
Opening the meeting, Peace Committee Chairman Soulay B. Daramy described the gathering as a “family meeting” focused on restoring unity after disputes arising from the SLPP lower-level elections.
He warned that development efforts in Lower Bambara Chiefdom would be undermined without reconciliation, urging political actors to set aside grievances and work together.
“No public project in Lower Bambara will succeed if peace is not addressed now,” Daramy said, adding that unity would support development initiatives and governance in the area.
Participants included former constituency chairman Sheku Farma and SLPP Constituency 015 chairman Mohamed Mustapha, as well as members of the peace committee and civil society.
According to attendees, all three political actors agreed to embrace reconciliation and cooperate for the development of the chiefdom.
The meeting followed months of tensions after arrests and disputes surrounding repeatedly cancelled constituency elections, which had deepened divisions among residents.
Stakeholders resolved to hold further reconciliation meetings, starting with a gathering in Freetown hosted by Mussafa on May 3, followed by a chiefdom-wide meeting in Panguma at a later date.
Committee members including Dr. Sattu Issa and Dr. Yusuf Sheku Tejan also raised concerns about healthcare and other development priorities during discussions.
In an interview, Farma welcomed the initiative and pledged to promote peace at the grassroots level, including plans to organise a “peace dance” in Tongo. He also called for outreach to families affected by the recent unrest.
Participants said discussions also touched on broader development needs, including roads, electricity, water supply, healthcare and education.
They described the meeting as a significant step toward restoring stability in Lower Bambara Chiefdom and fostering cooperation among political stakeholders.