The Sierra Leonean Alhaji Sarjoh Bah, with more than 20 years of experience in peace, security and governance, has established himself as an experienced figure within Africa’s peace and security architecture. From academic research to multilateral diplomacy, his career has led him to hold several positions within and alongside the African Union. His appointment as Director of Conflict Management within the Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS) reflects a career fully dedicated to preventing, managing and resolving crises across the continent.
With more than two decades of experience in peace, security and governance, Alhaji Sarjoh Bah is one of the experienced figures in Africa’s peace and security architecture. His appointment as Director of Conflict Management within the African Union’s Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS) in 2021 came at a time when the continent was facing a growing number of armed conflicts, terrorism and unconstitutional changes of government. In this role, he is responsible for contributing to the prevention, management and resolution of crises across the continent.
The removal of tariffs is an opportunity for Africa to industrialize. That is why Member States collectively call for industrialization and the modernization of our production system. We have categorically opposed the idea of perpetuating a model that we have followed with the West for more than two or three hundred years: producing raw materials that are not processed on the continent and then re-importing finished products at a higher price.
Alhaji Sarjoh Bah, Director of Conflict Management, Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS), African Union – Sierra Leone
Originally from Sierra Leone and holder of a PhD in International Relations, Alhaji Sarjoh Bah initially built his reputation through research on conflicts and peace operations. He worked at New York University’s Center on International Cooperation, where he specialized in peace operations and African security institutions. He also contributed to research on the African Peace and Security Architecture, developing expertise that would later enable him to move from academic analysis to the operational management of crises.
The African continent is home to 60% of the world’s arable land. We have the Congo Basin, the second largest in the world after the Amazon, as well as numerous waterways. I believe we have everything we need to ensure our food security. We are therefore determined to draw on China’s experience in technology to ensure the transfer of technology and know-how, which will initially enable us to produce enough to meet our own needs before even considering exports.
Alhaji Sarjoh Bah, Director of Conflict Management, Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS), African Union – Sierra Leone
His institutional career continued within the African Union, where he held several positions in the field of peace and security. He notably became Chief Advisor for Peace, Security and Governance at the AU Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York. This experience strengthened his understanding of the AU-UN partnership and multilateral mechanisms for conflict prevention and resolution. He subsequently worked on several sensitive issues across the continent, including the crises in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan, as well as terrorism, unconstitutional changes of government and climate-related security challenges.
If you look at the programme dedicated to infrastructure and development in Africa, known as PIDA, it is a programme that enjoys the full support and legitimacy of our Member States. So, what we are doing here in China: certainly, each country conducts its bilateral engagements with China, as these fall within a bilateral framework. But when it comes to continental initiatives aimed at promoting the integration of the continent, we work together and agree on a collective strategy for our engagement.
Alhaji Sarjoh Bah, Director of Conflict Management, Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS), African Union – Sierra Leone
For PAPS, his arrival primarily brings expertise and extensive multilateral experience. His career, at the intersection of research, diplomacy and crisis management, enables him to strengthen the organization’s capacity for prevention and mediation. Against a backdrop of increasingly complex crises, his experience with African regional organizations and the United Nations is also an asset in improving the coordination of African responses and strengthening the African Union’s role in conflict prevention and resolution.
