On Friday 28 March 2025, the Chief of Defence Staff of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces, Major General AI Bangura extended his maiden address to personnel of the 5th Infantry Brigade Headquarters in Bo and 2nd Infantry Brigade Headquarters in Kenema during his tour to the Southern and Eastern Regions respectively. He highlighted his reforms and some of the critical welfare issues he has handled in just One Hundred Days in office that has immensely impacted on the lives of RSLAF personnel and their families.
In addressing the troops, the Chief of Defence Staff –RSLAF deliberated on the reforms that had taken place since his appointment as CDS - RSLAF and the transformation that has happened under the Tri- Service implementation. “Any Armed Forces that wants to grow needs to adopt the Tri-Service Structure” he affirmed. Anchoring on the key messages since he started his maiden visit and address to Western Area Troops, were also delivered to personnel of both the 5th and 2nd Infantry Brigades especially based on the directive given for RSLAF to revert to the Tri-Service since February 2019, by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Commander -in-Chief of the Armed Forces and Minister of Defence Brigadier General (Rtd) Dr Julius Maada Bio (GCRSL).
As a result of this directive, the Army, Navy and Air Force are currently having their Service Chiefs which has made the implementation of the Tri- Service a reality. The CDS-RSLAF further stated the key reforms he has made since his appointment in office, which include but not limited to the provision of RSLAF Bus Town Service, the increment in RSLAF funeral purse from Eight Hundred and Twenty Leones (NLe 820 .00) to Ten Thousand Leones (NLe 10,000.00) and a Personal Funeral Purse contribution of Two Thousand Leones (NLe 2,000.00) with 3 Bags of Rice from the CDS-RSLAF, construction of Boreholes at Murray Town, Juba and Wilberforce Barracks, re-construction of Barracks Roads at Murray Town and Wilberforce Barracks.

    

 

Additionally, RSLAF marriage assistance to its personnel from Two Hundred Fifty Leones (NLe 250.00) to Five Thousand Leones (NLe 5,000.00), Ration Cash Allowances (RCA) for internal operations has been increased to an appreciable amount, with this he stressed, “Every soldier on operations should be fed well to enhance their effectiveness”. At the same time, the Monthly Running Cost (MRC) was also increased for both Battalions and Formations. The Regimental Sergeant Majors (RSMs) and the Brigade Sergeant Majors (BSMs) fuel allocation of 10 % from unit fuel quota.
Major General AI Bangura personally sanctioned with immediate effect the digging of a borehole for personnel at the 5th Infantry Brigade Headquarters -Gondama, also to provide toilets for both Saint Augustine Primary and the Services Junior Secondary Schools at the 5th Infantry Brigade Headquarters. In his own wisdom, he has also directed that female soldiers be prioritized for courses in skills training and he further informed them that generators for electricity have been provided for the Barracks across the force.
As one of the RSLAF Constitutional mandates to contribute to the well-being of the country, 34 Military Hospital is key in providing health care services not only to RSLAF but to the country and the sub-region. Furthermore, the 34 Military Hospital will be capacitated to address some of the critical medical issues that have been outsourced from other countries. Thus, the RSLAF is going in for Specialist Medical Doctors from Cuba, Turkey, China, and UK, who will work alongside the RSLAF Doctors to deliver enhanced medical services. The CDS- RSLAF highly appreciated Her Excellency the First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Madam Dr Fatima Bio for her invaluable support towards uplifting the standard of the 34 Military Hospital.

 

    

 

He furthered that, the RSLAF will do Cashew Nut farming, Aquatic Fish farming, and Estates development in the construction of houses for Service Personnel in all Provincial Headquarter Towns. As a welfare CDS-RSLAF, his aspirations are immense in ensuring that the Armed Forces dependency on government is reduced by engaging the RSLAF Engineering Company to construct feeder roads that will generate income. Also, the construction of modern shops within the Barracks lands that will be placed on rental basis to service personnel and the income from those shops will be used to assist in solving some of the acute welfare issues of the RSLAF.
The CDS-RSLAF revealed that the National Defence and Strategy Policy document will be submitted to the Defence Council for its approval and the document will drive the Tri-Service proper. The Sierra Leone Navy is going to be capacitated to construct their own boats and to establish more Naval Bases. He also mentioned that, the Sierra Leone Air Force personnel will soon fly an aircraft within the country. He added that, personnel on multi-national companies effective the next payment will now receive the current increment made on allowances, so that their personal welfare will be adequately addressed. On Peace Support Operation (PSO), the CDS- RSLAF informed troops at the 5th and 2nd Infantry Brigades about the $10m gifted equipment by the AU to the Government of Sierra Leone, which has placed RSLAF on 75% equipment readiness for PSO.
During the question and answer session, Major General AI Bangura, also sanctioned the operation of TCVs within the Township of Kenema at every two hours interval. He also provided 15 bundles of corrugated iron sheet and roofing nails to Six (6) RSLAF personnel whose accommodation was burnt down by fire on 10th January 2025, at the 2nd Infantry Battalion Headquarters, RTI Barracks in Kenema. The CDS -RSLAF emphasized that, “the ideology of this current leadership is to seek the welfare of soldiers,” he stated. Thus, he concluded that the RSLAF is rapidly changing and asked all personnel to pray for the leadership and be respectful to their chain of command, he affirmed.
Brigadier General AO Kamara (5th Infantry Brigade Commander) and Brigadier General GM Bangura (2nd Infantry Brigade Commander) appreciated the timely visit of the CDS-RSLAF to their Brigades on behalf of their personnel for his reforms and welfare issues that are currently addressed.

 

 

    

Credit:
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