Book on SSR in Sierra Leone launched by the Office of National Security and DfID

On 16 May 2009, Sierra Leone's Office of National Security (ONS), DfID Sierra Leone, and the Global Facilitation Network for Security Sector Reform (GFN-SSR) launched the book 'Security System Transformation in Sierra Leone, 1997-2007'. Around 70 people were in attendance. The Freetown book launch followed the launch in London at DfID on 26 February 2009.

The book is a collaborative effort between its main authors, Peter Albrecht and Paul Jackson, and key actors involved in the security system transformation process in Sierra Leone who were formed into a working group to inform the book. Among the working group members who were present at the launch were Sierra Leone's current Chief of Defence Staff, Major-General Alfred Nelson-Williams, the National Security Coordinator, Kellie Conteh, Permanent Secretary to the President, Emmanuel Osho Coker and Kadi Fakondo, Assistant Inspector-General in the Sierra Leone Police. The Inspector-General of Police, Brima Acha Kamara, was also present.

After a brief introduction of the working group members, Peter Albrecht gave an overview of the book, touching on strategic direction, ownership of the process and the future of SSR in Sierra Leone. The National Security Coordinator, Kellie Conteh, made a statement on behalf of the security sector, commending the former and current government, speaking about local security structures, the need to build on results so far, and the plan to produce the first Security Sector Review since 2005.

Dominic O'Neill, head of DfID in Sierra Leone, did the official launch of the book.

Download a copy of the book in pdf.

Order a hardcopy of the book.

The coordination of the book was done by International Alert and GFN-SSR, and was funded by the UK Government's Global Conflict Prevention Pool. The coordination of a local survey for the book was coordinated with support from Conciliation Resources.

International Alert: www.international-alert.org
GFN-SSR: www.ssrnetwork.net
Conciliation Resources: www.c-r.org