From a renewed drive to strengthen women’s leadership in global security operations, the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) has launched a four-day capacity-building workshop aimed at preparing female officers for effective participation in international peacekeeping missions.
The training, which commenced on Tuesday, 13 January 2025, is being held at the Police Wives Association Multipurpose Hall at Kingtom Police Barracks. It is organised by the Sierra Leone Police in collaboration with the British Peacekeeping Support Team Africa, and brings together thirty (30) female police officers drawn from across the force.
The workshop assembles both former and prospective female peacekeepers, creating a platform for experience sharing, mentoring and strategic engagement. It is designed to enhance women’s confidence, leadership skills and operational readiness, while reinforcing their role in peacekeeping operations at regional and international levels.
Key areas of focus during the training include peacekeeping fundamentals, the nature and dynamics of conflict in Africa, and the structure of peace arrangements under the United Nations and the African Union. Participants are also being grounded in the core principles that guide peacekeeping missions worldwide.
Delivering the keynote address, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Sahr Yomba Senesi, reaffirmed the SLP’s unwavering commitment to gender sensitivity and inclusivity. He stressed that under the leadership of the Inspector General of Police, William Fayia Sellu, the institution has made deliberate efforts to empower women within its ranks.
DIG Senesi disclosed that several strategic directorates within the SLP are currently headed by female officers, including the Corporate Services Directorate, Community and Gender Directorate, Peacekeeping Department and the Operational Policy and Planning Department (OPPD). He further noted that female officers also serve as Local Unit Commanders (LUCs) in a number of police divisions across the country, reflecting growing trust in their leadership capabilities.
Highlighting a landmark decision by the current police leadership, DIG Senesi recalled that a 100 per cent female quota was allocated to personnel deployed on the Formed Police Unit (FPU-5) peacekeeping mission in Somalia. According to him, the move demonstrated the SLP’s strong institutional commitment to women’s empowerment and gender equality in security operations.
He added that capacity building remains a central pillar of the SLP 2025–2029 Strategic Development Plan (SDP), explaining that the ongoing workshop is intended to strategically position female officers for effective participation and leadership in peacekeeping missions.
Also speaking at the opening ceremony, the British High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, Josephine Gauld, underscored the importance of strengthening female capacity in peacekeeping. She described the training as critical to building confidence, improving performance in peacekeeping examinations, encouraging knowledge sharing and preparing officers to operate effectively within diverse international environments.
She wished participants a successful workshop and reaffirmed the United Kingdom’s continued support to Sierra Leone’s security sector reforms and peacekeeping ambitions.
Representatives from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs also made meaningful contributions, describing the training as timely and vital to strengthening the capacity of female police officers for effective security service delivery in international theatres.
The opening session of the four-day workshop ended with a group photograph, marking the beginning of what organisers and participants alike described as a transformative engagement for women in policing and peacekeeping.