The official Handing and Taking Over Ceremony of the office of the Chief of Defense Staff of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) was conducted at the Myohaung Officers Mess Wilberforce Barracks, on Thursday 5 December 2024, between the Outgoing Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) Lieutenant General (Retired) PK Lavahun and the incoming CDS, Major General Abdul Idara Bangura.
In his valedictory address during the ceremony, the Outgone CDS, who is currently the High Commissioner – Designate to the Republic of Kenya, His Excellency Lieutenant General (Retired) PK Lavahun stated that the RSLAF is bigger than all of them thus, if that is the case and that they agreed with him “It needs stability now more than before and therefore, all of you needed to be hopeful,” he stated.
He admitted that it had been an honour working with the Armed Forces and for serving the noble institution for 36 years of which he had endured and enjoyed every bit of the journey, the turbulence, pain, difficulties, challenges, struggles, love, fun and a lot more. All of those things were worth the experience in that journey and he was happy it had finally over for that chapter of his life. “I have reached the finishing line with grace and honour, which is the desire and hope of every professional career officer,” he affirmed.
After he had served for two years as CDS, he was now moving to a new career which is entirely a different domain, a new journey and experience pioneered by God Almighty through the Commander-in-Chief, His Excellency the President Brigadier (Retired) Dr Julius Maada Bio for appointing him in a Diplomatic Mission as High Commissioner to the Republic of Kenya. He finally stated that with humility he had handed over the baton of full command and administration of the RSLAF leadership to the newly appointed CDS, Major General Abdul Idara Bangura.
Major General Idara Bangura, as CDS of RSLAF in his remarks, stated that it was a solemn moment of transferring leadership from one generation to the other. He assured members of the RSLAF that when leadership changed in any institution, there would be a tendency for continuity to remain as they continued to serve the RSLAF, “A change in leadership is the hope that we all have for a change,” he emphasized.
The RSLAF he furthered had come a long way in stabilizing the country as a beacon of hope. He continued with the pathway for his leadership and he encouraged everyone to help him deliver on his vision, mission and command philosophy by bringing all onboard.
In his vision statement “a well-motivated and operationally efficient force that leverages technology, professionalism and cohesion to deliver its national development,” of which he said hinges on the constitutional mandate to carry out and also look after their Staff by solving their welfare and be able to perform their Constitutional roles. “We want a well-motivated Armed Forces that has hope in their job for the future,” he stressed.
Operationally efficient is by utilizing technology instead of physically spreading soldiers all over for operations. In the area of professionalism and training, he said that it will be regularly and efficiently conducted across the Force in meeting the current trend of today’s security challenges. According to the CDS, Cohesion is the aspect of ensuring operational effectiveness and professionalism through professional interrelation of which leaders have to follow their soldiers in things that affect them; “our greatest asset is our Soldiers, if we look after them well, they will look after us forever,” he said.
He furthered by deliberating on his mission statement “a well-trained and combat-ready force capable of deterring, and if necessary defeating threats, as well as contributing to national development.” Training he said would be focusing on the lower ranks, they should be combat ready by regular training in all weaponry systems.
He concluded by saying that in order for him to achieve his Vision and Mission Statements, leadership is key in his Command Philosophy “Leadership is the Golden Thread to deliver capacity and development for the RSLAF.” He also stated that he would not only do appraisal for commanders just like that but would be also focused on performance and key pointers.
The CDS entreated all Commanders to reduce their dependency on Government, thus the RSLAF would be working on three things that will make it financially independent: Spread land – build shops under the Engineer Regiment Construction Company and put them on rentals, Fish Ponds and Cashew Nut investment, those areas will generate funds for the RSLAF through investment in enterprises, thus, this would help to solve the welfare of the RSLAF. “We can do more if we find for ourselves,” he said.
Credit: Public Relations & Information Directorate, MoD