Head of the Office of National Security (ONS), Brigadier (Rtd) Kellie Hassan Conteh has left his post for a top UN job in Southern Sudan, Africa’s newest State.
The Brigadier has not officially resigned, contrary to speculations, but handed over to his immediate deputy, Brigadier (Rtd) M.K. Dumbuya, who was appointed to his post a few months ago. Kellie Conteh had for some time now expressed to President Koroma his desire to leave given the too many requests from a number of organizations including the Commonwealth and the United Nations for his immense knowledge and expertise in security management and administration. The President has however been asking him to delay his move.
Accordingly, Brigadier Conteh should have conducted his handing over in a proper manner, but this was not to happen due to the President’s apparent refusal to grant him audience since October last year when he had made known his intention to leave made known to his boss.
“I have done what is accepted however, by handing over to my immediate deputy, a man I have every respect for as competent to handle the tough job of National Security Coordinator,” Kellie Conteh told this reporter over the weekend.
Kellie Conteh who left the shores of Sierra Leone on Sunday, 29th January 2012, goes to take responsibility of reforming and restructuring the new State of Southern Sudan’s military and security sector to meet the needs and aspirations of the country in the context of a modern democracy.
“I know the job is tough, but it is not too different from what I have been doing here in Sierra Leone. The only thing is that I am going to a completely different society, culture and tradition. But God being my helper, I believe I will succeed,” the erudite Security Expert said.
Brigadier Conteh leaves the ONS as one of Sierra Leone’s best post war reconstruction institutions, having played a constructive role in the reconciliation of the seeming animosity waging between the army and police and for harmonizing the country’s security forces into now the security sector through the National Security Architecture.
Under Brigadier Kellie Conteh, national security was no longer the issue of maligning people through fake and falsified information taking direct to the President or the Inspector of Police or the Head of the Army. Security information is sieved on the basis of laid down standards and ethics through specific layers within the security architecture and certified at the National Security Council (NSC) chaired by the President where decisions are then taken.
“The ONS has brought sanity in the way and manner security was handled in the country. This is hugely due to the focused and level headedness of the leadership,” an observer of the security sector told Awoko over the weekend.
Under Brigadier Conteh, the ONS instituted a rigorous staff recruitment policy that ensures quality based on intelligence, competence and has instilled a character can stand the test of time against those things that have the potential of undermining the integrity of the institution. The former ONS boss leaves behind a team of competently reliable and security conscious men and women on whose expertise in national security can be relied upon by the government and people of Sierra Leone.
Brigadier Conteh told Awoko that he has no regrets being head of the ONS as he feels confident and satisfied that he was able to spot Sierra Leonean talents and build their capacities to be able to adequately handle the country’s security without any help from outsiders.
He however cautions that the competence and ability of the staff would be more enhanced if they are allowed to work in an atmosphere of independence and cooperation of especially the President and the government.
“This is what is mostly required for the ONS to leave to expectation particularly in this crucial period of the country’s multi-tier elections,” Brigadier Conteh cautioned.
He disclosed that he would have liked to hand over his mantle in the presence of the President since he would have brought certain issues to the knowing of the President in his future handling of the ONS and national security as a whole.
Meanwhile, a Government press release yesterday Monday, 31st January informed that Brigadier (Rtd) “has left the Office of National Security (ONS) to take up an appointment outside Sierra Leone” and expressed appreciation of “his past services”.
In his stead, Brigadier (Rtd) Mustapha K. Dumbuya has been announced as the National Security Coordinator in pursuant of Section 17 of the National Security and Central Intelligence Act 2002. His appointment is however subject to Parliamentary approval.
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