Sierra Leoneans at the just concluded Bintumani Three Conference have urged Government to also consider other African models added to the Rwandan and Kenya models in order to develop an institution that is best suited to the Sierra Leonean situation.
Civil society groups and other state and non-state groups have made these recommendations against what the panellists from Kenya and Rwanda presented with regards the way they have structured their peace commissions.
The participants at the three days conference have emphasised that the institution should be nationally-owned, managed and run. They also requested that its independence and inclusivity should be guaranteed by law with a decentralised structure right down to the chiefdom level.
A very good number of participants stated that there is a need to include the Commission’s representatives in all existing security and justice sector coordinating groups, with a view to strengthen relationships with public, private, non-state actors and Sierra Leoneans in the Diaspora;
It was also recommended amongst others that the staff of the proposed Commission shall have no active political affiliation and should be competent persons with relevant experience appointed on merit.
Their jobs should have security of tenure and must be persons of high public probity. Participants also agreed that the Government should adequately fund the Commission (although the Commission could seek support from other sources for specific projects).
Parliament should also amongst others guarantee adequate and earmarked budgetary support on an annual basis to the Commission to ensure its effective functioning.
The issue of periodic structural, performance and activity audits of the Commission as expressed by the experience sharing session with the Kenyan and Rwandan panellist was also recommended with a view to provide an opportunity for reviews.
Other relevant issues highlighted also included the
implementation of the outstanding Truth and Recommendation Commission Report recommendations and also ensure that existing relevant institutions and processes are effectively executed; re-visiting, adopting, and effectively implementing the recommendations of the Constitutional Review Committee; enacting legislation for a predictable election timetable and a transparent post-election political transition process, amongst others.
Conclusively participants expressed their satisfaction that this conference is the start of an inclusive Sierra Leone-owned process that will lead to the prevention and management of grievance and conflict, the fostering of peace and national cohesion.