WELCOME STATEMENT BY LIEUTENANT GENERAL SULLAY IBRAHIM SESAY- CHIEF OF DEFENCE STAFF-RSLAF AT THE ARMED FORCES DAY CELEBRATION AT COCKERILL BARRACKS 18TH FEBRUARY 2022...
Lieutenant General Sullay Ibrahim Sesay (OOR),
Chief of Defence Staff of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces
The Honorable Chief Justice The Ministers of Defence & Cabinet Ministers of Government Honourable Members of Parliament Members of the Diplomatic and Consular Corps The Joint Force Commander The Assistant Chiefs of Defence Staff The Acting Director General - MoD The Rep of the SL Ex Service Men & Women Association The Commander Maritime Wing The Commander Air Wing Our Guest Preachers Senior Officers & Members of the Senior Management of the RSLAF /MOD Officers Men and Women of the RSLAF Members of the Fourth Estate Distinguished Invitees, Ladies and Gentlemen
It is a great honour and privilege for me, on behalf of officers and soldiers of the RSLAF, to warmly welcome our Distinguished Guest of Honour, the Hon Chief Justice of the Republic of Sierra Leone, His Lordship Justice Babatunde Edwards to the Armed Forces Day Celebration.
The Honorable Chief Justice, distinguished Invitees, I am particularly delighted and honored to have you grace our Armed Forces Day Celebration. Your presence adds great pride to our Armed Forces Day Celebrations. Today’s celebration is organized as scheduled in the Programme of Events.
The 18th February, is of great importance in the history of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces, as it is the date set aside by the Government of Sierra Leone, in honor of the supreme sacrifice of members of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces. It is also a Day of gratitude to all those who have served in the Armed Forces and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice with their dear lives, in defence of our country – Sierra Leone.
It is a day to recognize and honour members of the Armed Forces (both serving, retired and dead) of their selfless service and sacrifices. Today’s celebration is important because, it reminds us as a country about the important role(s) the RSLAF continue to play to keep Sierra Leone safe and stable and its contribution (to peace support and peacekeeping operations) for the maintenance of international peace and security.
Distinguished invitees, we appreciate your esteemed presence at this ceremony and I whole-heartedly thank you all for honoring us with your eminence - presence. I wish to also appreciate all retired officers, men and women who have shown care and concern on the affairs of the RSLAF.
In the same vein, let me convey appreciation to our partners, friends and allies for their continuous support to the RSLAF, in multidimensional ways. I wish to particularly thank the United Kingdom – Armed Forces, the United States Army, the (Chinese) - Peoples Liberation Army, the Egyptian Armed Forces, and the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
As we celebrate the Armed Forces Day, let me seize this opportunity to convey our gratitude and loyalty to His Excellency, the President and Commander – In – Chief of the RSLAF, for Government’s continued support to the Armed Forces. Let me also use this occasion to reiterate our unreserved loyalty to the Government and people of Sierra Leone and to assure all and sundry of the RSLAF’s continuous support to democratic governance and the rule of law. The RSLAF condemns wholeheartedly the interference into democratic governance as happening in the West Africa Sub – region. The RSLAF will remain apolitical, with its focus on its Defence Missions and Military Tasks. The RSLAF will uphold, the peace, stability and tranquility of the state as it contributes to national development.
On this note, I want to wish all of us a happy Armed Forces Day.
Credit: Chief of Defence Staff Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces Paramount Building State Avenue Tower Hill Freetown
