Sierra Leone has emerged as the first African country selected to benefit from specialised Database Management Tool (DMT) training under an INTERPOL initiative aimed at strengthening international law-enforcement cooperation and improving the management of criminal intelligence.
The development marks a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to modernise policing systems and enhance its capacity to respond to transnational organised crime, as the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) continues to expand its engagement with regional and international security institutions.
The announcement was made by specialists from the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) during an engagement with Inspector General of Police (IGP) William Fayia Sellu, where the international organisation also recognised the Police Chief for his commitment to strengthening Sierra Leone’s INTERPOL capabilities.
INTERPOL specialists from its General Secretariat in Lyon, France, presented gifts to IGP Sellu in appreciation of his leadership and continued support for programmes designed to improve the SLP’s participation in international policing networks.
Ms. Najwa Hemri and Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Sheku Bahja-Koroma, who were part of the INTERPOL delegation, outlined several developments recorded under IGP Sellu’s leadership.
Among the achievements highlighted were increased opportunities for police personnel to access local and international training, the establishment of West African Police Information System (WAPIS) workstations across the country’s six police regions and selected divisional headquarters, as well as efforts towards strengthening the country’s data protection framework.
The INTERPOL representatives also commended IGP Sellu for his leadership as Chairman of the West African Police Chiefs’ Organisation, noting the importance of Sierra Leone’s contribution to regional policing cooperation.
Explaining the significance of the new training opportunity, the INTERPOL specialists informed the IGP that Sierra Leone is only the third country globally, after Malta and North Macedonia, and the first country in Africa to benefit from the DMT training.
“Because of your passion and commitment to INTERPOL, we are pleased to inform you that Sierra Leone is the third country, after Malta and North Macedonia, and the first in Africa to benefit from Database Management Tool (DMT) training,” the specialists said.
The DMT initiative covers 15 countries and is expected to be completed by December this year. It is intended to provide law-enforcement agencies with improved technological tools for managing information and strengthening the quality of data shared through INTERPOL systems.
A two-day workshop has also been organised for selected SLP personnel as part of the initiative. The training is expected to improve officers’ ability to manage, analyse and share information through INTERPOL databases, ultimately strengthening cooperation in the fight against cross-border crime.
Responding to the development, IGP Sellu expressed appreciation to INTERPOL for its continued support to the Sierra Leone Police, particularly in the areas of capacity building, professional training and technological development.
He said the need for stronger international cooperation had become increasingly important as organised criminal activities continue to cross national boundaries.
The IGP raised concerns over the movement of small arms and other illicit goods across the Sahel and towards coastal West Africa, warning that criminal networks could exploit the movement of weapons and drugs to expand their activities in countries along the coast.
He stressed that modern policing tools, effective intelligence-sharing and well-trained personnel were essential to addressing the changing nature of transnational crime.
According to IGP Sellu, Sierra Leone’s participation in WAPIS and the continuous professional development of police personnel were already contributing to the country’s efforts to strengthen its law-enforcement architecture.
“With Sierra Leone on the WAPIS platform and the continuous capacity-building of our personnel, I am optimistic that Sierra Leone will not be the weak link in the chain,” he said.
The latest development further positions Sierra Leone within the wider regional and international law-enforcement framework, particularly in the areas of criminal intelligence, information management and cross-border security cooperation.
With access to enhanced technological tools and specialised training, the Sierra Leone Police is expected to strengthen its ability to identify, analyse and share information relating to organised criminal networks operating across national borders.
The recognition of IGP Sellu by INTERPOL, alongside Sierra Leone’s selection as the first African beneficiary of the DMT training, therefore reflects growing international confidence in the country’s efforts to build a more connected, technologically equipped and internationally responsive police service.