Bio Condemns Hate Speech, Urges Religious Unity in Mano River Basin

Bio Condemns Hate Speech, Urges Religious Unity in Mano River Basin

President Dr. Julius Maada Bio has issued a strong condemnation of religious violence and hate speech, appealing to religious leaders across the Mano River Basin to leverage their influence in fostering peace, tolerance, and unity.

The President delivered his remarks at a sub-regional Muslim prayer conference, organized by the Sierra Leone chapter of the Kormende Progressive Union. The gathering convened Islamic scholars, clerics, and delegates from Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, and Côte d’Ivoire. This annual event, which rotates among the four Mano River Basin nations, focused on offering prayers of thanksgiving for peace and stability, and for continued sub-regional cooperation.

President Bio characterized the conference as a timely affirmation of religion's unifying potential, especially amid rising global intolerance and division. He underscored that authentic religious doctrine, whether from the Holy Qur’an or the Bible, fundamentally opposes hatred and violence. The President cautioned leaders against disseminating divisive messages, insisting that faith must remain a powerful catalyst for peace and social cohesion.

Commending Sierra Leone’s enduring tradition of interfaith harmony, President Bio encouraged neighboring countries to draw inspiration from the nation’s model of religious coexistence. He reaffirmed his government's steadfast commitment to protecting religious freedom and supporting initiatives that reinforce unity and peaceful coexistence across the Mano River Basin.