Base organisation’s beach carnival at Sugar Land Beach resort in Freetown.

 Abubakar Hashim

It was an atmosphere of fun, cultural activities, food delicacies, showcasing community bonds, anchored on mixed ancestry and rich heritage, on Sunday 5 January 2025, when the Base organisation assembled members in a beach carnival at Sugar Land Beach resort in Freetown.

It was an assembly of members of the Base organisation, domiciled in Central Freetown, Central Bank, all Commercial Banks, Financial Institutions and Commercial Businesses are headquartered.

Base is a registered social and cultural organisation, with active branches in the US, UK and major EU countries, dedicated to sustainable peace, unity and community development.

This year’s beach outing, an annual event, brought together members from diverse backgrounds to celebrate shared values, and to sustain the long-cherished peace in the country. Late President Tejan Kabbah officially declared an end to the 11-year-old war in 2002, 23 years ago.

Today, 6 January 2025, marks exactly 26 years after the rebels entered Freetown the capital, killing scores of innocent people.

The main purpose of the Base Beach outing is to sustain the peace and unity of the country.

Sierra Leone, today, is polarised along political, ethnic and tribal divisions.

Such an assembly douses this division and promotes unity in the country.

*Abubakar Hashim is the West  Africa Bureau Chief of the News Magazine