By Prince J Musa in Kenema
Ahead of the 2023 election, the Integrated Security planning Committee under the Office of National Security (ONS) has ended a four day regional elections security training.
The training which was supported by the UNDP took place at the Kenema District Council hall.
The exercise targeted 600 (six hundred) senior officers from the Police,the Armed Forces, National Fire Force, Correctional Service and Chiefdom Police who in turn will serve as trainers on election security. The were to possess competency skills and get knowledge of fulfilling their duties during the 2023 electoral processes in line with the standard response guidelines for the national security architecture.
The Technical Lead of the integrated election planning committee who doubles as the Chief of Staff, Francis Languba Kellie told the participants that the training is to ensure the enabling environment for the conduct of peaceful elections and to strengthen social cohesion during the process.
He said the Integrated Security Planning Committee has done several engagements with the security sector based on threat assessment and that as a post conflict country, there has been a series of elections being conducted but all of them were marred by violence, intimidation, assaults among others.
Kellie said the entire bye –elections conducted in the country since 2018 have been marred with violence, with people losing their lives. He also said that the Police alone could not be enough to provide security and that it is necessary to partner with sister forces to beef up security in polling centers.
Kellie maintained that UNDP has provided security advisers and national consultants who had been part of the system since 2018 with a comprehensive training manual which will be made available to personnel as guides toward their duties.
He urged participants to take the training seriously and to cascade the knowledge gained to other personnel in their various divisions so that they will be well prepared for the election.
The UNDP Election Security Adviser Zapper Ersin told the gathering that their target is to strengthen support to the electoral activities in Sierra Leone for the peaceful management of elections.
He said UNDP is the leading United Nations organization that is fighting to end injustice, poverty, inequality and climate change. He added that they are working with a broad network of experts and partners in 170 (one hundred and seventy) countries with the aim of helping nations to build integrated and lasting solutions for people and the planet.
Police Director of Training, Assistant Inspector General (AIG) Sylvester Koroma described the training as significant and timely for security personnel and a way of supporting them in doing their constitutional mandate to the nation.
He said integrated security planning is in line with democratic policing which needs collective participation and collaboration among security sectors.
The Director of Training implored on the officers to make good use of the opportunity so that they can match up with the expected standards for a peaceful and security friendly election.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (06/03/23)
