10 March 2026 — A delegation from Sierra Leone’s National Mandingo Union, led by its President and Mansa, Alhaji Kanja I. Sesay, paid a courtesy call on His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio at State House today to formally introduce the Union’s current leadership and report on recent activities aimed at fostering national unity and social harmony.
During the meeting, the Union’s leadership briefed the President on a variety of initiatives aimed at promoting peace, national unity, and cultural preservation. Alhaji Kanja Sesay thanked President Bio for hosting the delegation and explained that the visit provided an opportunity to raise the new executive’s profile nationally. He emphasised that the Union has strong support from members in all sixteen districts and reaffirmed the organisation’s firm commitment to promoting peace and unity among its constituents.
The Union announced that it has launched a nationwide data collection program to gather information on Sierra Leone’s Mandingo communities. Furthermore, it has launched initiatives to encourage the teaching of the Mandingo language to both children and adults, to preserve and pass on the community’s history. The leadership also emphasised efforts to resolve internal disputes amicably and discourage members from using litigation as their first option.
In response, President Bio congratulated the Union on its efforts to maintain peace and cohesion in the Mandingo community and throughout Sierra Leone. He praised the Mandingo people for their long-standing contributions to national development, highlighting their historic roles as traders and scholars, as well as their track record of integration into diverse communities. The President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to national unity and peaceful coexistence, pointing out that Sierra Leone’s strength lies in its diversity. He also praised the Union’s efforts to preserve and promote the Mandingo language and culture, urging more initiatives to strengthen communal bonds and national solidarity.
