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Office of National Security
Office of National Security
About ONS

About the Office of National Security

Learn about the legal foundation, mandate, coordination role, and public message of the Office of National Security in Sierra Leone.

Institutional overview

Background, mandate, and public message

Structured sections for the institution’s foundation, role, and priorities.

Background to Establishment

How the Office of National Security was established after the civil war.

Background to the Establishment of the Office of National Security

The Office of National Security was established by an Act of Parliament, the National Security and Central Intelligence Act, 2002, by the end of Sierra Leone’s 1991-2002 rebel war. It was established to serve as the secretariat of the National Security Council and to fulfil the urgent demand for a high-level authority to provide coordination and oversight of the security sector. The National Security Council provides the highest forum for the consideration and determination of matters relating to the security of Sierra Leone.

What was the institution like at the time of the Act?

By the time of the enactment of the National Security and Central Intelligence Act, 2002, the office, then referred to variously as the National Security Agency, the Office of the National Security Adviser, or the National Intelligence Agency, was in its nascent stage. At that stage, it mainly focused on intelligence collection in support of a government faced with the critical challenge of re-establishing its authority.

What challenge was the ONS meant to solve?

It had been assessed that until and unless the activities of the security sector were properly coordinated and strong executive oversight established, the sector would remain disjointed, uncoordinated, wasteful, and unable to deal with the lingering and emerging security challenges Sierra Leone and its people continued to face.

What did the 2002 Act achieve?

The National Security and Central Intelligence Act, 2002 provided the legal framework for the establishment of the ONS and achieved the key twin goals of full oversight and control, and coordination of the security sector.

Mandate

The legal role of the ONS and the National Security Coordinator.

What is the legal mandate of the ONS?

The ONS is established as the secretariat of the National Security Council and is headed by the National Security Coordinator under section 17(1) of the National Security and Central Intelligence Act, 2002.

What does that mandate mean in practice?

Without prejudice to the generality of this overarching requirement of the institution, the mandate of the ONS encompasses the specific responsibilities of the National Security Coordinator and other assigned and implied tasks and responsibilities provided in the Act.

How does ONS support national decision-making?

The ONS helps government respond to national security concerns in an organised and professional manner by coordinating information, supporting implementation of decisions, and linking security strategy with development objectives.

Coordination and Early Warning

How ONS supports whole-of-government coordination and preparedness.

Why is coordination important in the security sector?

Coordination ensures that security institutions and government Ministries, Departments and Agencies work in tandem, avoid duplication, use resources responsibly, and respond effectively to threats affecting the country.

What role does ONS play in early warning and response?

The ONS coordinates Early Warning and Early Response mechanisms to help government prepare for, and respond effectively to, threats and hazards such as public order issues, organised crime, corruption, economic and health security concerns, environmental issues, terrorism, and external threats.

Does ONS operate only at the national level?

No. Early warning and security coordination are also carried out through decentralised structures including Provincial Security Committees, District Security Committees, and Chiefdom Security Committees, commonly known as PROSECs, DISECs, and CHISECs.

Message from the National Security Coordinator

A public message on the current security environment and the role of the ONS.

How does the ONS describe Sierra Leone’s current security environment?

The message notes that since the end of the civil war in 2002, Sierra Leone’s security landscape has evolved dramatically, with considerable progress in structural reforms and service delivery, alongside a paradigm shift from state-centric security to human security.

What role does ONS play for the President and the National Security Council?

The ONS supports His Excellency the President and Chairman of the National Security Council by offering high-quality advice and driving efforts to ensure decisions are implemented in a professional fashion.

What commitment does the ONS make to the public?

The ONS affirms that despite internal security challenges and external threats, it remains committed to coordinating the security sector’s efforts to mitigate and respond to threats and to help create the enabling environment for peace and development in Sierra Leone.