By Alfred Koroma
In a landmark moment for Sierra Leone’s military history, the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) has on Tuesday 19th August, appointed its first female infantry battalion commander, Lieutenant Colonel Alice K. Sesay, as part of a bold new gender reform initiative supported by the Elsie Initiative Fund for Uniformed Women in Peace Operations (EIF).
The announcement was made by Lieutenant General Amara Idara Bangura, Chief of Defence Staff at the Officers Mess, during the official launch of a two-year project aimed at eliminating structural and cultural barriers to women’s full participation in peacekeeping and leadership within the armed forces.
The initiative, implemented by UN Women Sierra Leone in partnership with RSLAF and funded by the EIF, seeks to significantly increase the number of women eligible for deployment to United Nations peace operations and to promote gender-responsive reforms within military institutions.
“This launch is not just symbolic, it is strategic,” said Lieutenant General Bangura. “We are launching a vision where the RSLAF is vibrant and inclusive. For the first time in our history, a woman will command an infantry battalion. This is a bold step that demonstrates we are ready for change.”
Currently, women make up just 13 percent of the force’s total personnel, but 46 percent of Sierra Leone’s peacekeeping deployments are women, far exceeding regional and global averages.
The project builds on a 2022 barrier assessment that identified challenges such as limited access to training, lack of women in senior leadership roles, inadequate healthcare services, and weak mechanisms for reporting harassment and misconduct.
Addressing these barriers, the new project will support: gender policy reform within RSLAF, infrastructure upgrades at the Peace Mission Training Centre, career development and peacekeeping preparation for women, health and safety improvements, including SGBV reporting systems.
UN Resident Coordinator, Seraphine Wakana, described the project as “a message to every girl and every woman: Your leadership is valued. Your place in peace and security is nonnegotiable.”
She emphasized the importance of collective effort, calling on government leaders, civil society, donors, media, and the military to sustain the momentum.
First Lady Fatima Maada Bio, delivering the keynote address, said the initiative reflects the country’s determination to create an armed force that mirrors the strength and diversity of Sierra Leone.
“This moment is not mine alone. It belongs to every woman,” she said. “We are building a new military that reflects fairness, justice, and full representation. Let this day be remembered not just for an announcement, but as a turning point.”
She emphasized that the reforms go beyond numbers, calling for scholarships, mentorship programs, leadership training, and transparent recruitment and promotion systems to support female personnel.
Deputy Minister of Defence, Colonel (Rtd) Muana Brima Massaquoi, added that with over 200 female cadets and recruits currently in training, the percentage of women in the military is set to increase significantly.
“Women are not just supporters of peace, they are builders of peace,” he said.
Hosted by UN Women, the Elsie Initiative Fund is the world’s known global funding mechanism focused solely on increasing women’s meaningful participation in peace operations. Backed by countries including Canada, the UK, Norway, and South Korea, the EIF has supported 24 military and police institutions across 15 countries.
UN Women Sierra Leone Head of Office, Ms. Setcheme Mongbo, said the project aligns with Sierra Leone’s Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act (2022) and the country’s National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security.
She praised Sierra Leone for its progress in female deployments but cautioned against complacency.
“Despite commendable achievements, there are persistent challenges, limited political will, institutional resistance, and underfunding of women-led initiatives. We must continue to push forward.”
Sierra Leone currently contributes female military experts and staff officers to UN missions in the Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Lebanon, Western Sahara, and Abyei. The new initiative will further strengthen the country’s compliance with the UN Uniformed Gender Parity Strategy, which aims for at least 25% female representation in staff officers and 15% in contingent troops by 2028.
