New, but old in APC!
By Abdulaziz Samura
Dr. Ibrahim Bangura’s name resonates deeply within the political fabric of Sierra Leone. His legacy, rooted in both his personal achievements and his lineage, makes him a significant figure in the nation’s political landscape. Born on September 21 1980, is a Sierra Leonean academic and aspiring politician. Known widely to his peers as I.B.Bangura is an accomplished and widely published academic in the fields of youth, governance, human rights, gender and security. An Associate Professor in the Department of Peace and Conflict Studies, Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone. He is also a 2024 Afox Fellow of the University of Oxford.
Dr. Bangura has carried forward the torch of leadership and service that his father once held high. As Sierra Leone faces a critical juncture in its development, he stands as a symbol of hope, vision, and continuity within the APC, the very party his father put his life on the line for.
The Bangura name is synonymous with dedication to public service, and Dr. Bangura’s achievements speak volumes. He is not just a son of a founding member and dedicated servant to the party; he has established himself as a global statesman and peace expert. With a Ph.D. in Economics and a wealth of experience serving in leadership roles, he has demonstrated his commitment to sustainable peace and development in Africa. His expertise on the global stage positions him uniquely to bring a wealth of knowledge and experience back to Sierra Leone.
Dr. Bangura’s return to Sierra Leonean politics marked a pivotal moment in recent history. His involvement in national development discussions, including his recent commitment to launch a nationwide MPox campaign, coupled with his advocacy for unity, has reinvigorated the political discourse within the APC party. Now, as the political landscape evolves, it is clear that Dr. Bangura’s leadership is one that the APC is ready to embrace, not only as a strategic move but as a recognition of his unshakable ties to the party’s founding values.
Historically, the APC has been a party of unity, national development, and grassroots empowerment. The founding fathers and dedicated servants, including his father ML Bangura, who was a close ally of the then Vice president Sorie Ibrahim Koroma (Popularly known as SI Koroma), envisioned a Sierra Leone that thrived on developmental principles and social justice. Dr. Bangura embodies these ideals, making him not just a natural fit for the party’s future but a necessary one. As the APC always navigates the complexities of governance and development, a leader of Dr. Bangura’s calibre offers the party—and the nation—a clear path forward.
With his father’s strong political ties in the APC, Bangura early on had access to some of the Party’s most influential leaders such as Edward Mohamed Turay, Abdul Serry-Kamal, Abdul Karim Koroma (author of the Agony of Nation) and Dr. Abdullai Conteh. Bangura’s tutelage at the feet of some of the doyens of the APC at the time, was instructive to his political education and access that was later to become a source of strength.
As some of his peers would say, Bangura never joined the APC, he was born and bred in the APC. His gentle persona, humility, and peacebuilding and reconciliation credentials have always helped him rise above petty squabbles and conflicts to gain the respect and credibility of his comrades in the party.