''Sub-regional security now demands a harmonized intelligence posture-an imagined framework through which our two police services share real-time intelligence on emerging risks-whether the transit of organised criminal syndicates, the movement of illicit arms, evolving human trafficking corridors, or the spread of extremist propaganda.”
This is according to the National Security Coordinator (NS Coord) and the Principal Adviser to the President on matters of national security in the country, Abdulai Caulker.
He was speaking on the 19th November 2025, at a Bilateral Meeting of the Inspector Generals of Police of Sierra Leone and Liberia at the Bintumani Conference, in Freetown. The high-level meeting brought together the leadership of Sierra Leone’s security sector and the senior leadership of the Liberia National Police, with Sierra Leone’s Minister of Internal Affairs serving as Guest of Honour.
The Head of the Office of National Security (ONS) further said that such a security mechanism could stop, for example, a threat detected in Conakry from manifesting in Freetown; prevent a trafficking network uncovered in Nigeria from reaching Monrovia; and ensure that an early warning in one capital becomes a protective buffer for both countries. “This is not idealistic-it is achievable through a bilateral intelligence fusion of architecture or a shared alert protocol,” Mr. Caulker said.
The NS Coord profoundly welcomed the Liberian delegation to Sierra Leone for such an important engagement that speaks to the very heart of the collective security aspirations of the two countries. He regarded the gathering as an important milestone in the shared sub regional journey of the two nations. “Sierra Leone and Liberia are bound by history, by resilience, and by a common commitment to peace. Yet we confront transnational threats whose scale, velocity, and complexity exceed the reach of any single state acting alone” the NS Coord said.
Speaking on capacity building of the two security forces, Mr. Caulker said each police institution possessed distinct strengths that, if combined, could elevate sub-regional policing to unprecedented standards; saying whilst Liberia’s experience in community policing and stabilization can enrich counter-radicalization models across the Mano River Basin, Sierra Leone’s advancements in digital forensics and major crime investigations can bolster Liberia’s service in combating cyber-enabled threats.
Joint academies, cross-border instructor exchanges, and rotational attachments, he added, would exponentially expand the professional proficiency of our two forces. Strong bilateral relations reinforce good governance, deepen public trust, strengthen state legitimacy, and buttress the political stability and economic resilience of our region, he reinforced.
Mr. Caulker concluded by reaffirming a simple but profound truth that security cooperation is not an act of convenience; it is an act of survival, a duty to posterity, and a testament to responsible leadership; hoping that the engagement enshrine a legacy of shared purpose, principled stewardship, and enduring fraternity between the Police Services of Sierra Leone and Liberia; and that the collective resolve continue to uphold the pillars of peace, stability, and progress in the Mano River Basin.
The presentation of “The Sierra Leone National Security Architecture” by the Principal Director of ONS, Morlai Kargbo on behalf of the NS Coord formed part of the high-level engagement.
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