More than two decades after Sierra Leone’s civil war ended, one of the foreign commanders who helped steer the country towards peace has been honoured at the highest level.

Retired Lieutenant General Daniel Opande of Kenya was awarded the Grand Commander of the Order of the Rokel by President Julius Maada Bio during Sierra Leone Armed Forces Day and an investiture ceremony held this week.

The Order of the Rokel is among the country’s most distinguished national honours. It is conferred on individuals recognised for exceptional service and leadership, particularly in public service and peace-building.

President Bio’s government cited General Opande’s role in restoring stability during the final and most fragile years of Sierra Leone’s conflict.

A decisive mission

General Opande served as Force Commander of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) from 2000 to 2003. At the time, the country was emerging from one of West Africa’s most brutal civil wars, marked by widespread violence and displacement.

Kenyan troops had joined the UN mission in 1999 as part of an international effort to implement a peace agreement between the government and the Revolutionary United Front (RUF). The task was daunting: disarm rebel fighters, stabilise volatile regions and support the return of state authority.

Under General Opande’s command, UN forces intensified disarmament efforts and expanded control into areas previously held by rebels. The mission also provided security for Sierra Leone’s May 2002 elections, widely regarded as the first peaceful democratic polls in more than a decade.

Beyond military operations, Kenyan troops helped rebuild schools, clinics and places of worship, contributing to recovery in communities scarred by war.

Recognition and reflection

The award coincided with commemorations marking the official end of the civil war in 2002, a date that holds deep significance in Sierra Leone’s national memory.

In brief remarks at the ceremony, General Opande dedicated the honour to Kenyan soldiers currently serving in peace support missions around the world.

The retired officer has also commanded peacekeeping operations in Namibia, Mozambique and Liberia, earning a reputation within international circles as a steady hand in fragile post-conflict settings.

Kenya has long been one of Africa’s leading contributors to United Nations peacekeeping missions. Officials in Nairobi have often described such deployments as both a diplomatic commitment and a professional calling for the Kenya Defence Forces.

For Sierra Leone, the ceremony was not only about honouring a foreign general. It was a reminder of how close the country once came to collapse — and how international partnerships helped pull it back from the brink.

For General Opande, the medal marks a chapter in a career shaped by conflict zones and hard-won peace.