By Abdul Kamara

Freetown’s iconic Aberdeen and Lumley beaches have been given a fresh new look after a massive cleanup exercise led by the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) and the Sierra Leone Police (SLP). The joint operation, carried out yesterday, cleared tons of seaweed and waste that had long scarred the coastline of the country’s most visited tourist sites.

The effort, which falls under the Defence Mission and Tasks of the Armed Forces, was designed not just to restore beauty to the beaches, but also to send a message of peace and stability to visitors ahead of the festive season.

Chief of Defence Staff Lieutenant-General Amara Idara Bangura told journalists at the beach that the initiative was about more than tidiness. “We want tourists to know that there is tranquility in Sierra Leone,” he said. “Our goal is to create an environment where visitors can relax and enjoy the natural beauty of these beaches without concern.”

Lt. Gen. Bangura explained that the timing was deliberate, as December’s holiday season traditionally draws both Sierra Leoneans and international tourists to the beaches. “We want them to experience the sweet, natural smell of Aberdeen and Lumley in their purest form,” he added.

The Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Nabeela Farida Tunis, hailed the operation as both timely and historic. She said this was the most thorough cleanup of the two beaches since seaweed and waste began piling up in 2009. The minister also announced that her ministry is working on a Memorandum of Understanding with RSLAF to extend similar exercises to other beaches across the country.

According to the Sierra Leone Tourist Board, the stretch between Aberdeen and Lumley is about 3.5 kilometers. To cover the area, RSLAF deployed roughly 1,100 troops with heavy-duty engineering equipment, while SLP provided another 300 officers.

The machinery, including bulldozers, excavators, graders, dump trucks, and cargo trucks, came from the 88 pieces of equipment donated to RSLAF in 2022 by President Julius Maada Bio with support from China.

Originally procured to boost military logistics and infrastructure projects, the machines have since been used for road rehabilitation, disaster response, and now national cleaning campaigns.

Local traders, fishermen, and residents welcomed the cleanup, noting the immediate improvement in the look and feel of the beaches. Many expressed hope that such initiatives will become a routine part of keeping Sierra Leone’s coastline attractive, rather than a one-off intervention.

They said as Christmas and New Year seasons approach, the fresh look of Aberdeen and Lumley beaches has rekindled optimism among tourism operators. With cleaner, safer, and more welcoming beaches, many believe Sierra Leone is better positioned to draw visitors and grow its tourism sector.