Message From The National Security Coordinator

Since the end of the civil war in 2002, the security landscape in Sierra Leone has evolved dramatically, with considerable progress in structural reforms and service delivery. There has been a paradigm shift from state-centric to human security. This current security arrangement requires core security sector institutions and government Ministries, Departments and Agencies to work in tandem and complement one another in pursuance of our collective security and progress.

The Office of National Security (ONS) is positioned to play the critical role of coordinating these efforts, as enshrined in the National Security & Central Intelligence Act (2002).

Over time, the ONS has made deliberate efforts to promote the culture and practice of security across government, thereby linking security strategy to development objectives. Also, the ONS supports His Excellency, the President and Chairman of the National Security Council by offering the highest quality advice, and driving efforts to ensure decisions are implemented in a professional fashion. The ONS coordinates the Early Warning and Early Response (EWER) mechanism to prepare for, and respond effectively to threats and hazards that impact on Sierra Leone’s national security. These include public order and social issues, corruption, organised crime, economic security, health and environmental issues, terrorism and external threats. Whilst the EWER is generated coordinated at the national level, it is also done so at the local level through our decentralised security committees – Provincial, District and Chiefdom Security Committees (PROSECs, DISECs, and CHISECs) as embedded in the Standards Response Guidelines for the National Security Architecture.

Whilst we cannot shy away from the fact that Sierra Leone, as a post-war nation, continues to grapple with internal security challenges and existential external threats, including border incursions and terrorism in the sub-region, the ONS prides itself with its ability to continue to espouse its core mandate of coordinating the security sector’s effort to mitigate and respond to threats posed to Sierra Leone’s national security. By so doing, the ONS has significantly contributed to creating the enabling environment for peace and development.