By Ishmael Sallieu Koroma
Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio has called on citizens to wear white ribbons or white clothing in the days leading up to the country’s first National Remembrance Day, scheduled for 18 January 2026.
In a statement posted on his verified Meta page, President Bio said he wore a white ribbon at State House as a symbol of peace, healing and national unity, and invited Sierra Leoneans at home and abroad to do the same from 14 to 21 January 2026.
“Today at State House, I wore the white ribbon symbolizing peace, healing, and unity,” the President wrote. “As we prepare for our first National Remembrance Day on 18th January 2026, I invite all Sierra Leoneans to wear a white ribbon or cloth from 14th – 21st January 2026.”
National Remembrance Day will be observed for the first time this year as a national moment of reflection and remembrance. It is not a public holiday. The initiative is intended to honour victims of conflict, national tragedies and other difficult periods in Sierra Leone’s history, while promoting reconciliation and social cohesion.
President Bio said the observance should encourage citizens to reflect on the past and recommit to peaceful coexistence.
“Let us remember our past, embrace peace and strengthen national bonds,” he added.
The white ribbon campaign is expected to run nationwide, including among Sierra Leoneans in the diaspora, providing a visible and non-partisan way for citizens to participate in the commemoration.
Sierra Leone emerged from an 11-year civil war in 2002 and has since pursued a range of peacebuilding and reconciliation initiatives, including the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Officials say the introduction of a National Remembrance Day forms part of broader efforts to sustain peace and national unity.
The government has described the observance as a collective moment for remembrance, reflection and a renewed commitment to peace.
