Defence, Internal Affairs Committees Step Up Efforts to Strengthen Security Oversight

By Lemuella Tarawallie The Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Defence and National Security and the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Internal Affairs have intensified efforts to strengthen oversight of Sierra Leone’s security sector, with Members of Parliament urged to ensure that security institutions

operate effectively while remaining accountable to the Constitution, the law and the people.

The call was made during a three-day capacity-building workshop for the two committees, held from 6 to 8 October 2026 at Madella Hall in Bo. The engagement was supported by the African Union Commission, the European Union and GIZ through the ECOWAS Peace, Security and Governance Programme.

Opening the workshop on behalf of the National Security Coordinator, Deputy National Security Coordinator Dr Ahmed A. Sannoh described national security as a shared responsibility that must be exercised within a constitutional framework.

“National security is not a responsibility of a security institution. It is a shared national responsibility exercised within a constitutional order and ultimately in the service of our people,” Dr Sannoh stated.

He said Parliament plays a critical role in the country’s security architecture through legislation, budget scrutiny, oversight and accountability. However, he cautioned that parliamentary oversight should complement, rather than interfere with, the operational responsibilities of security institutions.

According to Dr Sannoh, Sierra Leone’s security environment is becoming increasingly complex, with organised crime, trafficking, border insecurity, cyber threats, misinformation, disinformation and violent extremism presenting new challenges. He therefore called for credible information, strategic foresight, evidence-based decision-making and stronger coordination among institutions.

Representing the Speaker of Parliament, Deputy Clerk Gilbert Bosco N’habay described the workshop as an investment in the institutional foundations of democratic governance, national security and citizen protection.

He stressed that security institutions must be adequately equipped to protect the State and its citizens while operating within the framework of the Constitution, the law, democratic authority and appropriate accountability mechanisms.

Chairperson of the Defence and National Security Committee, Hon. Alex Mattia Rogers, said the participation of the Internal Affairs Committee was important because national security extends beyond conventional defence to include institutions such as the police and immigration authorities.

Hon. Rogers said the training would strengthen the capacity of MPs, committee staff and Parliament as an institution to conduct more effective oversight. He also highlighted the ongoing Yenga issue, noting that parliamentary diplomacy had been adopted as part of efforts to address the matter.

Meanwhile, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Legislative Committee, Hon. Abdul Sulaiman Marray-Conteh, said effective oversight should not be interpreted as an attempt to undermine the operational independence of security institutions.

He said Parliament has a constitutional duty to ensure that institutions entrusted with national security operate within the law, respect human rights, manage public resources responsibly and remain accountable to citizens.

Representing the Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Rose Mary Bangura called for a shift from traditional concepts of defence towards a broader approach to security sector reform based on governance, accountability, human rights and community trust.

The workshop examined the constitutional and legal foundations of parliamentary oversight, African Union and ECOWAS security sector reform frameworks, security budgets and financial scrutiny, human rights, gender-responsive oversight, regional security dynamics, evidence gathering, committee hearings and mechanisms for following up on parliamentary recommendations.

African Union Commission representative Osei Baffour Frimpong said effective parliamentary oversight was central to democratic and accountable security sector governance. Meanwhile, ECOWAS Resident Representative Ambassador John Azumah urged Parliament to move beyond ceremonial oversight and strengthen its scrutiny of security policies, budgets and programmes.

The European Union delegation also reaffirmed its support for stronger democratic accountability, stressing that effective security institutions and parliamentary oversight should work together to promote peace, stability and public confidence.

The three-day engagement aimed to strengthen practical mechanisms through which Parliament can scrutinise security institutions, track public expenditure, follow up on recommendations and deepen cooperation between lawmakers and the country’s security sector.