On 27 July 2022 President Julius Maada Bio appointed William Fayia Sellu as Inspector General of the Sierra Leone Police. The appointment, subsequently confirmed by the Police Council and widely reported in the national media, elevated to the helm of the country’s principal law enforcement institution a career officer shaped by decades of frontline and strategic policing. Since assuming office, Sellu’s tenure has been defined by a deliberate effort to reposition policing in Sierra Leone from a historically coercive model towards a citizen centred, rights conscious and institutionally accountable service, broadly aligned with regional and international standards of democratic policing.
Sellu is no stranger to Sierra Leone’s security architecture. His professional trajectory spans key leadership roles, including Director of Crime Services and Regional Police Commander in the Southern Province. In those postings, his operational record has been frequently cited by colleagues and local stakeholders as contributing to improved crime management, administrative discipline and coordination with local authorities. That institutional longevity affords him both practical insight and internal legitimacy, assets that are essential in a reform environment where resistance to change is often embedded within organisational culture.
Constitutional and transitional context
The authority of the Inspector General of Police is grounded in the Constitution of Sierra Leone, which vests operational command and administrative control of the Police Force in that office, subject to civilian oversight and executive direction. This mandate is further supported by statutory instruments, most notably the Police Act of 1964, which continues to regulate the structure, discipline and conduct of the force. However, the Act reflects a colonial era framework and has long been criticised by legal scholars and civil society groups for its limited alignment with contemporary democratic governance and human rights norms.
Overlaying this legal structure is the enduring moral and institutional legacy of Sierra Leone’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The TRC’s findings on systemic abuse, politicisation and impunity within the security services during the civil war remain central to public expectations of policing reform. Any credible attempt at professionalisation must therefore engage not only constitutional responsibility but also transitional justice obligations, particularly with regard to accountability, proportionality in the use of force and the protection of civilians.
Policy orientation and performance
Since assuming office, Sellu has pursued a dual policy orientation centred on legal reform and organisational culture change. On the legislative front, he has overseen consultative engagements involving government ministries, legal experts and civil society organisations aimed at reviewing the Police Act of 1964 and updating internal disciplinary regulations. These processes have been framed as essential to strengthening internal accountability, clarifying the scope of civilian oversight and embedding human rights standards within everyday policing practice.
Equally significant has been the shift, both rhetorical and operational, from a Force model to a Service model of policing. This transition reflects a broader reconceptualisation of the police as providers of public safety rather than instruments of coercion. Under Sellu’s leadership, the Sierra Leone Police has placed increased emphasis on community engagement, professional investigative standards and closer coordination with prosecutorial and judicial institutions. These measures are intended, among other outcomes, to reduce prolonged pre trial detention and ease systemic pressure on the courts. Elements of this reform agenda have been supported by international development partners, including United Nations agencies and bilateral donors, through training programmes and institutional capacity building.
Operational leadership and public visibility
Beyond policy frameworks and institutional reform, Sellu’s leadership style has been marked by an unusual degree of public visibility for an officer of his rank. He is among the few Inspectors General in the history of the Sierra Leone Police who is frequently observed on the ground during festive periods, personally supervising traffic control alongside rank and file officers. These interventions, particularly in congested urban centres such as Freetown, are intended to ensure the smooth flow of traffic and to mitigate the economic and social costs of seasonal gridlock, which disproportionately affects ordinary citizens dependent on public transport.
While such actions are symbolic, they carry substantive weight. They signal command responsibility, reinforce discipline within the ranks and project a model of leadership that is accessible rather than remote. In a society where public trust in law enforcement remains fragile, these gestures contribute to reshaping perceptions of the police as public servants rather than distant authority figures.
Regional leadership and international alignment
Contemporary policing increasingly operates within a transnational context, particularly in West Africa where cross border crime, drug trafficking, human trafficking and the proliferation of illicit arms pose persistent threats. Under Sellu’s leadership, Sierra Leone has sought a more assertive role in regional security cooperation. His appointment as Chairman of the West African Police Chiefs Committee places the country at the centre of ECOWAS policing coordination and strengthens its role in shaping regional strategies on intelligence sharing, operational collaboration and professional standards.
This regional engagement is reinforced by alignment with African Union and United Nations policing frameworks, which emphasise legality, proportionality, accountability and civilian protection. Sellu’s public commitment to harmonising Sierra Leone’s policing practices with these norms situates the Sierra Leone Police within a broader continental and global reform discourse.
Assessment and constraints
A balanced assessment of Sellu’s tenure must recognise both measurable progress and persistent structural constraints. Progress is evident in the reframing of institutional identity, the pursuit of legislative reform, expanded leadership training initiatives and strengthened regional engagement. These measures constitute important foundations for long term institutional change.
At the same time, challenges remain substantial. Legislative reform depends on sustained political support beyond the police hierarchy. Resource limitations, including deficiencies in forensic capacity, logistics and specialised training, continue to undermine operational effectiveness. Public confidence, while improving in certain communities, remains uneven, and periodic allegations of misconduct highlight the gap that still exists between reform ambitions and lived experience.
William Fayia Sellu’s leadership of the Sierra Leone Police reflects a reformist orientation rooted in constitutional responsibility, awareness of transitional justice imperatives and regional cooperation. His emphasis on service oriented policing, visible leadership and institutional accountability represents a clear departure from traditional command driven models. Whether these reforms mature into durable institutional transformation will depend on legislative action, sustained political will, adequate resourcing and continued engagement with civil society and international partners. What is already evident is that Sellu has set an agenda that places professionalism, public service and legitimacy at the centre of Sierra Leone’s policing future.
REFERENCES AND SOURCES
Government of Sierra Leone. Appointment of the Inspector General of Police, July 2022
Sierra Leone Police. Official profile and leadership communications
Constitution of Sierra Leone, 1991 (Act No. 6 of 1991)
https://www.sierra-leone.org/Laws/constitution1991.pdf
Police Act of 1964, Laws of Sierra Leone
https://www.sierra-leone.org/Laws/PoliceAct1964.pdf
Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Sierra Leone. Final Report, 2004
https://www.sierraleonetrc.org
United Nations Development Programme. Justice and Security Sector Reform in Sierra Leone
https://www.undp.org/sierra-leone
United Nations Police Division. Democratic Policing and Human Rights
Economic Community of West African States. West African Police Chiefs Committee
African Union. African Union Policy on Police Reform and Civilian Protection
Amnesty International. Sierra Leone Human Rights and Policing Reports
