75 female soldiers begin all-female drivers training in Sierra Leone.

Through the Repositioned to Meaningfully Participate and Lead in the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) project, supported by the Elsie Initiative and implemented by UN Women, 75 female soldiers stepped forward yesterday at Murray Town Barracks in Freetown to begin a 15-week All-Female Drivers Training.

According to Lt. Col. Saio Marah, Commanding Officer of the Transport Regiment, this marks the largest female driver training ever conducted in the RSLAF. He emphasised that the program is designed to equip female personnel with specialised skills to operate vehicles across a range of military operations.

UN Resident Coordinator Seraphine Wakana described the launch as “a crucial step that will see 75 female officers from RSLAF receiving driving lessons to complement and enhance their skills.” She highlighted that this initiative marks a key milestone in implementing the recommendations of the 2022 Barrier Assessment Study, titled "Measuring Opportunities for Women in Peace Operations" (MOWIP), which the Elsie Initiative Fund supports through UN Women.

The MOWIP study identified several barriers to women’s full, equal, and meaningful participation in peace operations. Among them, limited access to career-enhancing training—such as driving—was noted as a major obstacle to women’s eligibility for deployment in peacekeeping missions.

Ms. Wakana further noted that the training not only provides essential mobility skills but also reinforces RSLAF’s commitment to a stronger inclusion agenda. It supports the implementation of the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act of 2022, particularly the provision calling for at least 30% representation of women in leadership and deployment roles.

Reaffirming the UN’s dedication to the Women, Peace, and Security agenda, she stated: “We remain steadfast in our support for inclusive peacebuilding, and we will continue to work alongside national institutions to support efforts that enable women in uniform to lead and shape the future of peace and security in this country, the region, and globally.”

Representing the Chief of Defence Staff, Lt. General Al Bangura called the launch a transformative program that reflects “our core values of inclusion, equality, and progress.” He emphasised that the 75 female officers are not just learning to drive—they are steering the RSLAF toward a more modern, capable, and gender-responsive future.

“To UN Women and the Elsie Initiative,” he added, “we are not just training drivers, we are building confidence, creating economic opportunities, and empowering women to serve in critical, non-traditional roles.”

UN Women Head of Office, Setcheme Mongbo, described the training as essential. She envisages a RSLAF where every officer can drive. “We should work towards that, not only for women, but also for men,” she said.

The 75 trainees have been divided into five groups, each undergoing five weeks of training, including one week of indoor classes to ensure they become reliable, precise, and safe drivers.

As these women take the wheel, they also take charge of a new narrative—one of progress, inclusion, and possibility