ONS & Elections Stakeholders Validate Security Risk & Threat Assessment Report

The Validation Workshop was held on Wednesday 14th October, 2026, at the Conference Room of the Office of National Security (ONS) on OAU Drive, Tower Hill, Freetown. The stakeholders include political party representatives, security sector representatives, development partners, the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists, the National Youth Commission, the Peace Commission and the Inter Religious Council of Sierra Leone.

Led by the ONS, with support from the UNDP and the Embassy of Iceland, the Regional Election Security Baseline Risk and Threat Assessment report examines electoral risks across the country, their underlying causes and potential triggers; and the capacity of institutions to prevent and manage them. It draws on regional consultations and the views of government and security institutions, electoral management bodies, political parties, community leaders, civil society, women and youth groups, persons with disability issues, the media and development partners.

The validation workshop of the report provided an important platform for stakeholders to critically review and validate the assessment’s key findings, analysis, identified risks and emerging trends, while providing technical and institutional inputs to ensure that the report accurately reflects the prevailing political, electoral and security environment across the country. The workshop further facilitated the identification of information gaps, emerging risks and areas requiring additional analysis or clarification, as well as the validation of identified political hotspots, risk drivers, vulnerabilities and institutional preparedness considerations.

In his welcome address and statement of purpose of the workshop, the National Security Coordinator (NS Coord) and Head of the Office of National Security, Abdulai Caulker, welcomed all to the workshop and thanked the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Embassy of Iceland, and all participating institutions for supporting that national effort.

Elections, he said, are central to democratic governance, but political competition can intensify existing grievances, misinformation, economic pressures and disputes within communities. Such tensions can develop into violence if warning signs go unaddressed. He said peaceful elections therefore require early preparation, credible information and coordinated prevention efforts.

Commenting on the draft report, the NS Coord said the document was intended to guide early warning, prevention, security planning and the allocation of resources ahead of the 2028 elections. “It should help institutions clarify responsibilities, address capacity gaps and coordinate their preparations”, Mr. Caulker said. Its findings, he further stated, should also inform inclusive interventions that reflect local conditions and support all citizens’ right to participate in elections safely.

He reminded stakeholders that the assessment was a planning baseline, not a fixed prediction or label for any community or district; saying risks and circumstances can change, so its findings must be monitored and reviewed and sensitive information be handled carefully.

Once finalized, Mr. Caulker said, the report must guide action, with the Integrated Elections Security Planning Committee (IESPC) helping to translate its findings into shared priorities, integrated security plans and early warning and response arrangements.

In concluding his statement, the NS Coord emphasized that the foundations for credible elections in 2028 must be laid now, and therefore encouraged open and constructive deliberations for timely action and strengthened preparations for inclusive elections in 2028.

In his statement, the Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP in Sierra Leone, Kevin Petrini, expressed his delight to join the ONS to welcome participants to the workshop to review and validate the findings of the Regional Baseline Risk and Threat Assessment Report; and commended the leadership of ONS for the strategic visionary and sustained commitment to timely identification of potential threats to peaceful elections and political stability in the country.

“For UNDP and our donors, supporting this assessment reflects our commitment to strengthening Sierra Leone’s national capacities for inclusive governance, mitigation of conflicts and sustainable development”, Mr. Petrini said; saying the support is anchored on UNDP’s recognition and fundamental conviction of the centrality of credible evidence and forward-looking analysis in informing national preparedness and preventive action as Sierra Leone continues to foster democratic resilience and consolidation ahead of the 2028 polls.

He described the electoral process as an important milestone for democratic governance; but ensuring the peaceful, credible and inclusive conduct of polls requires more than effective electoral administration; it demands a shared commitment to identifying potential sources of tension, addressing timely underlying grievances and strengthening public confidence in institutions and democratic processes.

“The regional baseline risk and threat assessment is therefore timely and important to Sierra Leone’s prevention and preparedness efforts. By consolidating evidence and stakeholder perspectives, the assessment provides an opportunity to strengthen our collective understanding of the risk environment and identify priority areas requiring attention”, the Deputy Resident Representative said.

He described the validation as a critical step in ensuring the report is credible, contextually grounded and useful to the institutions and stakeholders expected to act on its findings. He further encouraged all stakeholders to approach the work with a shared sense of responsibility and urgency, as the success of collective efforts would not be measured by the production of a report alone, but the ability to use its findings to anticipate risks, respond effectively and protect the space for peaceful and democratic participation.

In his conclusion, the Mr. Petrini reiterated UNDP’s unequivocal support to the Government and People of Sierra Leone, the ONS and other national stakeholders to strengthen conflict prevention, inclusive governance and resilience. “We remain committed to support nationally led efforts that translate evidence into action and help build the institutional and societal capacities needed to sustain peace”, he said.

The First Secretary of the Embassy of Iceland, Karl Fannar Saevarsson, thanked the ONS for their work on the report and pledged the Embassy’s continued support to development interventions in the country.

In his statement the Deputy High Commissioner of the British High Commission in Sierra Leone, Mendi Hussain, thanked the ONS for inviting his office to the validation workshop and thanked the leadership for conducting the research and putting together such a comprehensive report. “We look forward to reading its details, make our necessary contribution, as we look forward to working with the ONS”, he said.

The Chief of Staff of ONS, Francis Langumba Keili, presented the draft report to participants for discussion and contribution. Lengthy discussions where held with significant inputs from participants, including representatives from political parties and the President of the Sierra Leone Teachers’ Union.

At the end of the session, the NS Coord told participants to take a week to go through the draft report that was distributed to them, and come up with their input and or comments to have a detailed and professional final report that would be accepted by all.

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