President Julius Maada Bio, Commander-in-Chief of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF), has decorated senior military officers promoted to Major General and Brigadier General, urging them to uphold discipline, professionalism, integrity, and ethical leadership.
Brigadier General MM Kposowa has been promoted to the rank of Major General. Twelve other named officers were promoted to the rank of Brigadier General. They are Colonels D. Kpandemba, Kaisamba, B.A.L. Sesay, S.M. Conteh, J.P. Koroma, E.L. Smart, S.M.O. George, J.Z. Kailie, D.O. Johnson and V. Momoh and Captain (N) A.H. Bengeh. Two other officers were promoted to Brigadier General in absentia.
President Bio, speaking to the newly promoted officers at the ceremony, said their promotion marked a significant milestone in their military careers and rewarded their years of service. He said the higher ranks carried increased responsibilities and expectations, and he urged the officers to demonstrate through their conduct that they deserved the confidence reposed in them.
“Promotion brings responsibility, but that’s not strange for all of you. “You have served with dignity as senior officers in the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces, and that is why you have been promoted,” the President said.
Mr Baba Fortune, the Secretary to the President, explained the process that led to the promotions. He said the appropriate military authorities assessed and certified the officers for advancement. The Number One Promotion Board met on 30 September 2026, and President Bio ratified its recommendations on 1 October 2026.
The Director-General of the Ministry of Defence read the officers’ citations at the ceremony. The citations detail their military experience, professional training and academic accomplishments. These included PhDs, medical qualifications, legal training and master’s degrees in various fields.
President Bio noted that the new positions of the officers called for them to uphold high standards of service and to lead by example. “But discipline must remain a fundamental component of military life; integrity and fairness must guide senior commanders’ decisions,” he stressed.
He also stressed officers’ responsibility for the care of the men under their command. The President called soldiers the most important asset of the armed forces, and he urged the generals to ensure the men and women serving under them were treated fairly and responsibly.
“Your men are your greatest assets, and they must be treated fairly and responsibly, for the men and women are the most important assets of all the things you command,” he said.
The President reminded the officers that their duty was not to their careers or their units alone. “The State had a duty to be served by them with honesty and faithfulness,” he said, and added that their high ranks made it more important to lead ethically and morally.
President Bio added: “You owe it to the State, as we all do, to serve honestly and with fidelity at all times.
President Bio remembered his time in the military when he was promoted to a Brigadier General during the civil war. The circumstances at the time did not permit a formal decoration ceremony, he said. He welcomed the families, spouses, and well-wishers of the newly promoted officers, recognising the support and sacrifices they had made throughout the officers’ careers.
On behalf of the promoted officers, Major General MM Kposowa thanked the President for the confidence reposed in them. He described the promotions as a reward for their service, and at the same time, a call to greater responsibility.
Kposowa reiterated the officers’ commitment to protect Sierra Leone’s territorial integrity and obey the lawful commands of the Commander-in-Chief. He also pledged their support for developing a modern, disciplined, and professional armed force.
He thanked the Chief of Defence Staff, the Ministry of Defence, and the officers’ families for their contributions and support. He said the officers understood the requirements of their new positions and were committed to serving the country in accordance with their duties.
Military leadership, government representatives, and the promoted officers’ families and supporters attended the ceremony. The ceremony marked a significant moment in the officers’ careers and highlighted senior command’s expectations of the RSLAF.
President Bio, in his remarks, stressed the importance of accountability, constitutional loyalty and responsible leadership. He called on the generals to combine their experience and qualifications with fairness, discipline and respect for the people under their command.
The promotions reflect the RSLAF’s ongoing effort to improve institutional capacity and professional standards. The President said the armed forces had an important role in ensuring Sierra Leone’s sovereignty, security, and national interests, and that the conduct of its senior officers was central to fulfilling that responsibility.
