By Thaimu T. Kamara
A high-level delegation of state and civil society leaders visited Makuma Section in Samu Chiefdom, Kambia District, in a bid to mediate a growing chieftaincy dispute and restore peace and unity among residents, on July 7, 2025 , the delegation included representatives from the Civil Society Movement of Kambia District, the Office of National Security (ONS), the leadership of the Kambia Police Division, the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion (ICPNC) North West Region, and Paramount Chief Bai Forki Fenka II of Maforki Chiefdom, Port Loko District.
The visit aimed to initiate a peace dialogue following ongoing tension stemming from the non-recognition of the section’s chieftaincy by PC Bai Shebura Yek II of Samu Chiefdom. The dispute has caused deep divisions and anxiety among community members.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, PC Bai Forki Fenka II extended an official invitation to Pa Alimamy Foday Tamethakeh No. 6 of Makuma Section and Former Councillor Yusuf Kamara, encouraging them and other relevant stakeholders to attend a peace dialogue meeting scheduled for July 10, 2025, at the Kambia District Council Hall. The meeting is intended to provide a neutral platform to hear from all sides and uncover the root of the conflict.
Addressing fears of reprisal, the delegation reassured all parties that no one would be arrested or harassed during or after the engagement, this assurance was welcomed by Former Councillor Yusuf Kamara, who expressed relief at the opportunity to speak freely, we had been afraid to travel to Kambia because of potential intimidation, he said. But now, with this reassurance and commitment to fairness, we are prepared to attend the dialogue.
LUC Bob Musa Nazlic Mansaray of the Kambia Police Division thanked the Makuma community for their hospitality and emphasized the shift in policing from force to service. “We are here to investigate thoroughly and ensure that justice is based on facts, not assumptions,” he noted. We want peace, and peace must be built on truth.
Ambassador Francis Patterson, North West Regional Head of ICPNC, emphasized the importance of dialogue over conflict. Fighting one another will not yield positive outcomes. Only engagement and understanding can lead to lasting peace, he said.
Civil Society Chairperson Madam Aminata Turay echoed this sentiment, noting that the mission of the delegation was not to take sides but to mediate and help the community rediscover peace through open, honest conversation.
The meeting in Makuma was opened with prayers and reflections on peace by Elder Foday D.M. Kamara, setting a tone of unity and reconciliation. The upcoming dialogue in Kambia is seen as a vital step toward resolving the leadership dispute and fostering peaceful coexistence in Makuma Section.
With continued commitment from stakeholders, the people of Makuma may soon see an end to years of tension and the return of a community guided by harmony, truth, and mutual respect.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Friday,11th July, 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
