Sierra Leone's president: Are there good military coups? | Talk to Al Jazeera
Oct 20, 2023
auto_awesome
Former coup leader Julius Maada Bio, now president of Sierra Leone, discusses the recent protests, accusations of election irregularities, and the concept of 'good' coups. The podcast also explores the brutalities of the past war, the significance of education, and the challenges faced by Sierra Leone in global politics.
Sierra Leone's President Julius Maada Bio has focused on championing education and women's rights to bring progress to the country.
The trauma and divisions caused by the civil war in Sierra Leone are still present, with vestiges of regionalism and tribalism persisting.
Deep dives
Sierra Leone's Journey to Stability
Sierra Leone has experienced stability since the end of its civil war in 2002, overcoming challenges such as rising inflation and economic hardship. President Julius Mado BIO, a former coup leader, has focused on championing education and women's rights to bring progress to the country.
The Lingering Impact of the Civil War
Sierra Leone still faces the trauma and divisions caused by the brutal civil war. While efforts to heal the society and address the deep-rooted issues have been made, vestiges of regionalism and tribalism persist. The war was not driven by ethnic or regional factors, but rather by bad administration, corruption, and lack of social justice.
The Role of UN Peacekeeping and Lessons Learned
Sierra Leone reflects on the valuable lessons from its experience with UN peacekeeping. The country acknowledges the role of local actors, especially women and civil society organizations, in facilitating peace. While UN peacekeeping remains important, the willingness and readiness for peace within the country itself are crucial for sustainable peace. Understanding the dynamics and underlying causes in conflict-ridden regions like the Democratic Republic of Congo is essential for effective interventions.
Last year, hundreds of people in Sierra Leone took to the streets in frustration at rising inflation and economic hardship. The protests turned violent and led to deaths.
Since then, President Julius Maada Bio has been re-elected, but there were accusations of widespread irregularities in the poll in June.
A former coup leader in the 1990s, Bio’s first civilian term was recognised for championing education and women’s rights. But after the recent coups in the region, does Sierra Leone face a similar risk?
Julius Maada Bio, the president of Sierra Leone, talks to Al Jazeera.
Subscribe to our channel http://bit.ly/AJSubscribe Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/AJEnglish Find us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera Check our website: https://www.aljazeera.com/ Check out our Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/aljazeeraenglish/ Download AJE Mobile App: https://aje.io/AJEMobile
@AljazeeraEnglish #Aljazeeraenglish #News
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode