The Former Head of State of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Rtd. Brig. Julius Maada Bio has arrived in Addis Ababa ahead of a presentation at the Institute for Peace and Security Studies (IPSS), Addis Ababa University.  The Presentation is expected to take place on Wednesday 17 ^th June 2015.

The Former Head of State and Senior Research Fellow of the University of Bradford, Rtd. Brig. Julius Maada Bio has been invited to do a Presentation by the Institute for Peace and Security Studies (IPSS) after the Institute learnt about the internationally acclaimed presentation of Rtd. Brig. Julius Maada Bio’s at the International Conference on Mediation at the University of Pretoria.

Commenting on the international invitation, the Former Head of State said “The invitation from the Institute for Peace and Security Studies is part of on-going lecture series wherein prominent personalities are invited to speak on conflict and security issues pertaining to the continent. I feel honoured to do such a presentation on Sierra Leone because part of my intention of writing the academic paper was to ensure that Sierra Leoneans are recognised and applauded by the International Community for their roles in ending the civil war. Importantly also, it is about what lessons citizens of other countries can learn from Sierra Leoneans in civil war peace settlement.”

The Former Head of State is expected to do a Presentation on “Civil War Peace Settlement in Sierra Leone: The Role of Local/Insider Mediators”. The Presentation at the Institute of Peace and Security Studies is expected to attract graduates, Masters and PhD Students, members of staff of the Addis Ababa University and members of the diplomatic community.

The Institute for Peace and Security Studies was established at Addis Ababa University (AAU) in 2007, following a tripartite agreement between AAU, the Royal Danish Embassy in Ethiopia, and the University for Peace’s Africa Programme. The mission of the Institute for Peace and Security Studies (IPSS) is to promote peace and security through education, research, and outreach in Ethiopia, the Horn of Africa and Africa at large, thereby focusing on African-led solutions. The Institute was founded with the vision of becoming a premier higher learning and research institution on peace and security studies, functioning as a centre of excellence at all levels and within all sectors of its activities. As part of Addis Ababa University, the Institute’s contribution lies in the realm of knowledge production, education, information and communication.

It can be recalled that on Thursday 4 ^th June 2015, the Rtd Brig. Julius Maada Bio made the same presentation at the International Conference on Mediation at the University of Pretoria and last week the Former Head of State also made the same presentation at the University of Bradford in the United Kingdom.