The Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF), on Friday, 13th December 2024, observed the Farewell and Pulling-Out Ceremony at Julius Maada Bio Parade Square at Wilberforce Barracks, Freetown, in honour of the recently retired Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Lieutenant-General Peter Kakowou Lavahun.
The military Ceremony, solemn as it was, marked the EXIT AND DISENGAGEMENT of the retired CDS from the Armed Forces. It also marked the LAST TIME that the former Defence Chief was clad in military regalia and accorded full ceremonial honour.
Bidding farewell to the officers, men, and women of RSLAF, the former Defence Chief said that it was a moment of mixed emotions for him. “It is a moment of joy because I have reached the finishing line of my career after 36 years of service. However, it is also a moment of tears because I have left you as ‘workmates’ forever”, he added.
Lieutenant-General Lavahun also said that his tenure as CDS was a period marked with unprecedented security challenges. He paid tribute to all the gallant men and women who worked with him well and firmly stood by him to overcome the daunting security challenges.
The former Defence Chief reminded RSLAF soldiers that the uniform they were clad in was a symbol of honour, sacrifice and service. “It also represents the trust that the People of Sierra Leone have placed in you to safeguard their lives and properties”, he said.
Lieutenant-General Lavahun told the soldiers that loyalty was the bedrock of military service. “Loyalty must not waive to any political party, individuals or interest groups. Your allegiance must be to the Constitution, the Government and the People of Sierra Leone”, he said.
The former Defence Chief entreated the soldiers to stay focused and remain apolitical. “Don’t be influenced by unscrupulous and misguided individuals. Your actions must always reflect what RSLAF stands for”, he said.
Lieutenant-General Lavahun appealed to the citizens to help RSLAF maintain its apolitical nature. He told the audience that the strength, effectiveness and reputation of RSLAF depend on not only the soldiers but also the citizens. “As a good citizen, you must resist the urge to drag soldiers into politics. You owe the duty to respect their role as neutral guardians of peace and stability”, he concluded.
Before his farewell speech, the retired CDS formally handed over the BATON OF LEADERSHIP to the newly appointed CDS, Major-General Amara Idara Bangura.
At the climax of the solemn traditional military Occasion, the former Defence Chief and his wife, Mrs Bintu Lavahun (who was the President of the Armed Forces Wives’ Co-operative Society), were conveyed in a parade vehicle and symbolically pulled out of military barracks by a troop of Generals led by the new CDS, Major-General Bangura.
Lieutenant-General Lavahun was enlisted into RSLAF in November 1988 at Moa Barrack, Daru, in Kailahun District. He was commissioned as Second Lieutenant in July 1991 at the then Benguema Training Centre (BTC) near Waterloo in the Western Rural District – which has been renamed as Armed Forces Training Centre (AFTC).
Three-Star General Lavahun was appointed as CDS on 12th August 2022. His appointment came two days after the BLOODY PROTEST in some parts of the country, namely, East-End Freetown (in Western Urban District), Tintafor (in Port Loko District), Makeni (in Bombali District), Magburaka (in Tonkolili District) and Kamakwe (in Bombali District).
During the POLITICALLY MOTIVATED PROTEST, a total of six UNARMED police personnel were CHASED, CAPTURED, BEATEN and STONED to death in some of the above-mentioned areas. The BRUTALLY KILLED police personnel were Superintendent Osman Fofanah, Sergeant Tommy Munda, Sergeant Desmond Hanciles, Sergeant Ibrahim Jalloh, Constable Charles E Kumba Smart and Constable Abu Bakarr Turay.
Lieutenant-General Lavahun (who was the number two man at the time) contained the VIOLENT DEMONSTRATION in support of the then newly appointed Inspector General of Police, William Fayia Sellu.
Lieutenant-General Lavahun acted SWIFTLY AND DILIGENTLY to deal with the protest. This was the period when his boss and predecessor, Lieutenant-General Sullay Ibrahim Sesay, had travelled out of the country on OFFICIAL ASSIGNMENT.
On his appointment in 2022, Lieutenant-General Lavahaun became the 22nd HEAD of the Armed Forces. His predecessors are as follows:
(1). Brigadier-General JRH Orr (Force Commander)
(2). Brigadier-General Blackie (Force Commander 1957-1962)
(3). Brigadier-General David Lansana (Force Commander 1962-1967)
(4). Brigadier-General Augustine Charles Blake (Force Commander 1967-1968)
(5). Brigadier-General John Amadu Bangura (Force Commander 1968-1971)
(6). Major-General Joseph Saidu Momoh (Force Commander 1971-1985)
(7). Major-General Mohamed S Tarawallie (Force Commander 1985-1992)
(8). Major-General Jusu Sannoh Gottor (Army Chief of Staff 1992-1994)
(9). Brigadier-General Kellie Hassan Conteh (Army Chief of Staff 1994-1995)
(10). Brigadier-General Julius Maada Bio (Chief of Defence Staff 1995-1996)
(11). Brigadier-General Joseph Obez Yamba Toure (Chief of Defence Staff 1996-1996)
(12). Brigadier-General Hassan Kellie Conteh (Chief of Defence Staff 1996-1998)
(13). Maxwell Mitikishe Khobe (Chief of Defence Staff 1998-2000)
(14). Major-General Tom Saybana Carew (Chief of Defence Staff 2000-2004)
(15). Major-General Edwin Sam M’bomah (Chief of Defence Staff 2004-2008)
(16). Major-General Alfred Nelson-Williams (Chief of Defence Staff 2008-2010)
(17). Major-General Robert Yira Koroma (Chief of Defence Staff 2010-2012)
(18). Lieutenant-General Samuel Omar Williams 2012-2016)
(19). Lieutenant-General John Edson Milton (Chief of Defence Staff 2016-2017)
(20). Lieutenant-General Brima Sesay (Chief of Defence Staff 2017-2020
(21). Lieutenant-General Sullay Ibrahim Sesay (Chief of Defence Staff 2020-2022)
On Tuesday, 19th November 2024, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and Chairman of the Defence Council, Brigadier-General (Retired) Julius Maada Bio (who is also the President), announced the retirement of Lieutenant-General Lavahun, alongside his number two man, Major-General Fred Dauda Alpha – who was Commander Joint Force (CJF).
Both Three-Star General Lavahun and Two-Star General Alpha were, however, appointed as Ambassador to the Republic of Kenya and Deputy High Commissioner to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, respectively.
While retired Lieutenant-General Lavahun has been replaced by Major-General Amara Idara Bangura (who was the Head of all military operations), the replacement of
retired Major-General Alpha has not been announced yet. In the interim, the Commander of the 3 Infantry Brigade, Brigadier-General Albert Jusu, is acting as CJF.
Ten days after the retirement of the two top-ranking commanders, the retirements of 70 other officers were also announced on Friday, 29th November 2022. Fifty-three officers were retired on the grounds of AGE and PERFORMANCE, while 17 were slammed with marching orders for prolonged ABSENCE WITHOUT LEAVE (AWOL) and MISCONDUCT. Among the 53 officers were two Generals: Major-General CF Marah and Commodore PJ Juana.
Until their retirements, Major-General Marah was Chief of Staff (COS) of the Ministry of Defence, and Commodore Juana was Chief of Naval Staff of RSLAF Maritime Wing. Unlike Commodore Juana, Major-General Marah has just been appointed as Head of Sierra Leone’s regulatory agency for small arms and light weapons.
NOTE:
Commodore is a rank of the NAVAL FORCE. It is equivalent to the rank of Brigadier-General in the ARMY. By Section 165 (1) of the Constitution of Sierra Leone Act No. 6 of 1991, RSLAF is operationally compartmentalised into three services: (1) the ARMY guards the country’s landscape, (2) the NAVY secures the waterspace and (3) the AIR FORCE protects the airspace.
