By Sayoh Kamara
Retired Brigadier-General Kellie Hassan Conteh has in a passionate call to members of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) has stated that in the spirit of promoting inclusiveness and national unity, the party should choose its next flagbearer from outside the Southern Province, which the common home region of current President, Julius Maada Bio.
The Retired Brigadier-General, a seasoned national security expert and former Minister of Defence and National Security Coordinator, in his candid appeal also cautioned over certain areas of serious concern to the SLPP, to adopt a more transparent and inclusive process in selecting its 2028 Presidential Flagbearer.
Writing in the SLPP 2028 Flagbearer Debate Forum on Friday, June 27, 2015, Brigadier-General Conteh expressed concern over what he described as a “dangerous trajectory” of selective internal practices that may risk the party’s electoral chances and democratic integrity.
“The SLPP has been blessed with a wealth of qualified personalities. But the party must avoid the trap of ‘elected-selection’ or ‘selected-election’—approaches that frustrate the will of the majority,” he stated.
For him, he proposed a “selection-by-elimination” method that seeks to suggest for a more structured and merit-based process that the party could use to make a strategic and unifying choice that can be appealing to the majority of the party members and stalwarts. He suggested four initial criteria to guide the early stages of narrowing down potential candidates, namely:
- Regional Balance: Conteh argued that to promote inclusiveness and national unity, the next flagbearer should come from outside the Southern Province—the home region of current President, Julius Maada Bio.
“Just as many of us from the north supported Maada Bio’s candidacy after former President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, a northerner, it is only fair to now look beyond the south,” he pointed out.
- Generational Renewal: He therefore called for a younger leadership pool, recommending candidates in their mid-sixties or younger, with older party members serving as strategic advisors and mentors, not necessarily front-line contenders.
- Clean Break for Presidential Transition: Brig. Conteh emphasized the importance of “a dignified and peaceful transition for President Bio and his family after 2028”, that will allow them space to enjoy retirement while continuing to contribute globally in advisory and diplomatic roles.
- Courage for Reform: The retired Brigadier-General stressed that the next SLPP leader must have the political will to revisit and overhaul natural resource agreements that have failed to deliver meaningful economic benefits for Sierra Leone.
Noting: “We need a leader who can radically renegotiate or scrap exploitative deals that hinder our growth,” he noted.
Speaking hard truth to his colleagues in the SLPP, he acknowledged that some of his views may be adverse and unpopular to some, but insisted that now is the time for honest conversation.
“This may disappoint or even offend some, but I would rather speak difficult truths today than remain silent while we sleepwalk toward the precipice,” he warned.
Drawing on his decades of experiences across military, security and diplomatic circles in-country and across Africa, Kellie Hassan Conteh urged party members to reflect on past missteps and prioritize unity, fairness, and national interest in the road ahead.
“The party is bigger than any one individual. If we stay on this divisive path, we risk serious long-term damage. But if we shift course now—with courage and clarity—we can emerge stronger and better prepared to lead Sierra Leone forward,” he asserted.
A Message to the SLPP Base:
The Retired Brigadier’s message to the SLPP concluded with a reiteration that his suggestions were not final prescriptions, but a contribution towards building a more credible and winnable platform for the party.
“These are my humble thoughts, grounded in personal experiences and patriotic concern. I trust that those who matter most in the party will reflect seriously on them.”
About Brigadier-General (Rtd) Kellie Hassan Conteh:
He served as National Security Coordinator and Head of the Office of National Security (ONS) under Presidents Ahmad Tejan Kabbah and Ernest Bai Koroma from 2001–2012. He was Minister of Defence from 2019–2023 and currently serves as National Security Adviser under President Bio. He has also worked as a Senior Security Sector Reform (SSR) Adviser in several UN-supported programs across Africa including in The Gambia and South Sudan.