The seeds planted today—in classrooms, newsrooms, and communities—are growing into a legacy of justice, resilience, and hope.
Sierra Leone’s journey to peace has been arduous. From 1991 to 2002, the country endured a devastating civil war that claimed over 50,000 lives, displaced millions, and left deep scars of human rights abuses, including widespread sexual violence, child soldier recruitment, and systemic corruption. The 1999 Lomé Peace Agreement marked the end of the conflict, paving the way for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), established in 2002, to document violations, address impunity, and foster healing. Yet, more than two decades later, the echoes of this conflict linger. Many of the TRC’s recommendation remain unimplemented, and public awareness of transitional justice (TJ) mechanisms remains limited.In post-conflict Sierra Leone, the lack of structured, evidence-based knowledge on transitional justice has been a significant barrier to sustainable peace. Media coverage and public discourse on TJ have often been superficial, lacking the depth needed to hold institutions accountable or educate citizens about their rights and the lessons of the past. Without a robust framework to understand and report on TJ, Sierra Leone risked repeating the cycles of injustice that fueled its war. It was against this backdrop that the Media Reform Coordinating Group (MRCG) determined to change the narrative and empower a new generation with the tools to build a just future.
Leveraging Education as a Catalyst for Justice
With funding from the African Transitional Justice Legacy Fund (ATJLF), MRCG launched an ambitious project to bridge the knowledge gap on transitional justice in Sierra Leone. Building on its earlier success mentoring journalists to uncover ongoing human rights issues linked to the war’s root causes, MRCG in recognition of the need to institutionalize TJ education, introduced a module – Media and Transitional Justice at the Faculty of Communication, Media and Information Studies at Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone. This marks the first time in the country’s academic history that a specialized module on Transitional Justice was introduced. So far, the module has been taught to 120 journalism students—65 female and 55 male. This groundbreaking course has not only filled an academic void but also empowered young journalists to explore Sierra Leone’s transitional justice mechanisms, such as the TRC’s legacy, and their relevance to Sierra Leone’s ongoing recovery.
Still on ensuring that journalists are educated on the subject of transitional justice, MRCG launched a Transitional Justice Reporting Manual has been translated into French broadening its reach across West Africa’s Francophone media communities. The manual is now widely circulated, empowering journalists to delve into complex TJ topics with clarity and purpose. Media practitioners who once overlooked the TRC report now turn to it as a resource, inspired by the manual’s accessible guidance.
Bridging the Knowledge Gap
The impact of MRCG’s work is already palpable. At Fourah Bay College, the transitional justice module has sparked a quiet revolution. Students have tackled group projects assessing critical issues, such as the government’s implementation of the TRC’s recommendations, producing work that reflects a nuanced understanding of Sierra Leone’s post-conflict challenges. For instance, one group examined how unresolved land disputes, which were highlighted in the TRC’s findings, continue to stoke tensions in rural communities, offering fresh insights grounded in evidence. This academic initiative has directly benefitted 120 students, equipping them to become advocates for accountability and informed storytelling in a country where such voices are desperately needed. Beyond the classroom, MRCG’s mentorship programs have nurtured a cadre of journalists who are changing the media landscape. Aisha Kamara-Gbla, a mentee from an earlier ATJLF-funded phase, credited the program with opening her eyes to the TRC’s untapped potential. Her reporting has since illuminated persistent human rights abuses, echoing the war’s unresolved grievances, and sparking public dialogue. Through these efforts, MRCG is not only increasing thematic reporting on TJ but also sustaining public awareness of mechanisms that can prevent future conflict.
Article by a Fellow of the ATJLF-MRCG Transitional Justice Reporting Fellowship
Legacy in the Making
MRCG’s work, fueled by ATJLF’s support, is more than a project; it is a movement to reclaim Sierra Leone’s narrative from the shadows of its past. By bridging the academic and practical knowledge gap on transitional justice, MRCG is fostering a generation of informed citizens and journalists who can hold power to account and amplify the lessons of the TRC. In a nation where corruption and inequality once ignited war, this initiative offers a lifeline: structured education and evidence-based reporting as tools for peace.
As Sierra Leone marks over two decades of relative stability, MRCG’s success story underscores a critical truth: healing a nation requires more than silence or amnesia; it demands understanding, dialogue, and action. MRCG is proving that transitional justice education is not just relevant but essential for Sierra Leone’s future. The seeds planted today—in classrooms, newsrooms, and communities—are growing into a legacy of justice, resilience, and hope.
