By Emiola Osifeso
Presidential Aspirant of the All People’s Congress (APC), Dr. Ibrahim Bangura, has highlighted his deep roots in the APC, professional journey and national commitment in an exclusive interview with Spear News.
Dr. Bangura described himself as a “proud son of Sierra Leone,” noting that his identity and allegiance to the country is not political rhetoric, but a lived reality. An Associate Professor in the Department of Peace and Conflict Studies at Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone, Professor Bangura has built an enviable academic and professional career grounded in evidence-based policy and academic research on conflict transformation, governance reform, women and youth related support, and transitional justice in the sub-region.
Speaking in the interview with Spear News, Dr. Bangura noted that he had served for many years as a results-oriented monitoring (ROM) expert, overseeing EU-funded projects and programmes across Africa. He is also a partner at Transition International, a consultancy firm he co-founded in 2006 to facilitate the reintegration of ex-combatants and to support countries transitioning from war to sustainable peace.
Dr. Bangura traced his paternal roots to Temne tribe in Mambolo in the Kambia District , while his mother is Fula from Guinea, with Baga-Soso maternal lineage, a family with one of the most historically significant political backgrounds in Guinea.
Educated primarily in Sierra Leone, he completed his primary and secondary schooling locally before obtaining a BA in History and Political Science from Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra. His academic journey then extended overseas, first completing an MSc at the University of Amsterdam, and later earning his PhD at the Leipzig School of Management in Germany. He also holds an MSc in Gender Studies from the University of Sierra Leone.
Despite his international exposure, Dr. Bangura emphasized to Spear News that Sierra Leone remains home, stating that he has lived most of his life in the country and is committed to its transformation.
His remarks come as he seeks the presidential flagbearer position of the APC, presenting himself as a candidate shaped by scholarship, international experience, national heritage and a grounded understanding of peace, stability and development.
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