By Sulaiman Jalloh
The Sierra Leone Action Network on Small Arms (SLANSA) Executive met with Minister of Internal Affairs, Rtd AIG Morie Lengor Esq., on April 17 at his Gloucester Street office, deepening ties to combat small arms proliferation. Led by Director Florella Hazeley, the courtesy call underscored SLANSA’s advocacy and sought enhanced collaboration to bolster national security, aligning with Sierra Leone’s peace-building legacy.
Hazeley outlined SLANSA’s mission: curbing small arms and light weapons, a threat fueling 20% of violent crimes in 2024, per Sierra Leone Police data. As part of a global network backed by ECOWAS, SLANSA partners with the Sierra Leone National Commission on Arms and Ammunitions (SLeNCAA), running public campaigns and engaging Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) We focus on civilian-held arms and community education, Hazeley said, noting 5,000 citizens reached in 2024, per SLANSA reports.
She praised Lengor’s support for SLeNCAA, which recovered 1,000 illegal firearms in 2024, per commission stats, your leadership fortifies our efforts, Hazeley said, appealing for closer ties to amplify impact, together, we can protect communities from arms-related violence, she urged, citing a 15% rise in urban gun incidents, per 2024 police briefs.
Lengor warmly welcomed the delegation, lauding SLANSA’s role in Sierra Leone’s peace agenda, your advocacy and community work are vital, he said, referencing SLANSA’s 2024 campaign that cut gun misuse by 10% in Kono, per local surveys, he urged SLANSA to leverage its ECOWAS ties to secure funding for SLeNCAA, which faces a 25% budget shortfall, per 2024 Ministry audits. “Mobilize partners our safety depends on it, Lengor stressed.
The minister highlighted collaboration’s urgency, with 2,000 unregistered arms circulating, per 2024 ONS estimates, he proposed joint workshops with SLANSA, SLeNCAA, and the Sierra Leone police to train 200 officers by 2026, building on a 2024 pilot that trained 50. A safer Sierra Leone starts with us, he said.
Public sentiment, vibrant on X, cheers the partnership. Fewer guns, more peace, posted Freetown teacher Mohamed Kamara, gaining 600 likes. Analyst Aminata Sesay warned, Funding gaps could stall progress, noting 2024’s 10% security budget cut, per Ministry of Finance. Community leader Imam Abdul Conteh urged outreach: Educate youth they’re key.
Opportunities gleam: SLANSA’s 2024 app, logging 1,000 arms tips, could scale with ministry support, per pilot data. ECOWAS grants, eyed for 2025, offer hope. Challenges persist rural smuggling, with 30% of borders under patrolled, per 2024 SLP data but SLANSA’s 2024 training of 100 community monitors shows promise.
The Sierra Leone Times sought SLeNCAA for collaboration plans but received no reply by press time, as SLANSA and Lengor align, their renewed commitment signals a robust push for a gun-free Sierra Leone, blending advocacy, policy, and community will to secure lasting peace.