Holiday Details
- Holiday Name
- Armed Forces Day
- Country
- Sierra Leone
- Date
- February 18, 2026
- Day of Week
- Wednesday
- Status
- 46 days away
- About this Holiday
- Armed Forces Day is a public holiday in Sierra Leone
Armed Forces Day
Sierra Leone • February 18, 2026 • Wednesday
46
Days
20
Hours
27
Mins
17
Secs
until Armed Forces Day
Africa/Freetown timezone
About Armed Forces Day
Also known as: Armed Forces Day
Armed Forces Day na Sierra Leone: Di Day wey wi de Onor wi Soldjer dem en wi Pis
Armed Forces Day na wan fayn en speshal day na Sierra Leone wey de sho se wi rili proud fɔ wi kontri en di pipul dem wey de protɛkt wi. Dis day no to jɔst holiday nɔmɔ; na wan de wey de mek wi mɛmbɛ aw di kontri bin pas tru boku boku tin dem fɔ rich usay wi de tide. I de sho di braytnes fɔ wi soldjer dem—di Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF)—en aw dɛn de gi dɛn sef fɔ mek sho se pis en kwayɛt de na di land.
Wetin mek dis day speshal pas ɔl na bikɔs i gɛt fɔ do wit di end fɔ di sivil wɔ wey bin de fɔ lɛk ten yia na Sierra Leone. Di day de mek wi mɛmbɛ di sɔkarifays wey di soldjer dem bin mek fɔ mek di fɛt fɛt stop. Tide, Armed Forces Day de sho se wi soldjer dem dɔn bikɔm wan professional grup wey bɔdi wan fɔ protɛkt wi bɔda dem, wi si dem, en wi ɛr. Na day fɔ sho rɛspɛkt to di wan dem wey stil de sav en di wan dem wey dɔn day fɔ di sake fɔ Sierra Leone.
Fɔ di pipul dem na Sierra Leone, dis day de mek wi fɛl se wi na wan. I de gi wi di chans fɔ tink bɔt aw far wi dɔn kɔm wit di rɛstɔreshɔn fɔ demokrasi en di ruls fɔ lɔ. We wi de si di soldjer dem de march wit dɛn yunifɔm wey klin en dɛn bɔtin dem wey de shayn, i de gi wi op se Sierra Leone de go bifo.
Usay Armed Forces Day de fɔ 2026?
Armed Forces Day de kam ɛvri yia na di sem tɛm. I no de chenj bɔt i de fala di kalenda fɔ di yia.
De fɔ di wik: Wednesday Di Det: February 18, 2026 Tɛm wey lɛf: I lɛf 46 dez fɔ lɛ dis big day rich.
Na Sierra Leone, dis det, February 18, na fiks det. I no de chenj go ɔp ɔ dɔn bikɔs i gɛt fɔ do wit wan patikyula tin wey bin apin na wi istri. So, mek yu mak am na yu kalenda se ɛvri February 18, Sierra Leone de pɔs fɔ onor in yon soldjer dem.
Di Istri en aw dis Holiday Bigin
Fɔ ɔndastand wetin mek Armed Forces Day impɔtant, yu fɔ no di istri fɔ Sierra Leone in sivil wɔ. Di wɔ bin bigin na 1991 en i bin rili bad fɔ di kontri. Bɔt na February 18, 2002, na in di Presidɛnt di tɛm de, Alhaji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, bin anawns fɔ di hol wɔld se di wɔ dɔn dɔn kpatakpata. I bin dɔn tɔk am na January, bɔt February 18 na di day wey dɛn rili sɔlɛm di tin en sho se di kontri dɔn gɛt pis bak.
Bifɔ dis tɛm, di army bin gɛt bɔku prɔblɛm dem. Bɔt afta di wɔ, dɛn bin nid fɔ bwil wan nyu army wey bɔdi wan. Na so dɛn kam fɔm di Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF). Dɛn bin put di Sierra Leone Army, di Air Wing (wey dɛn fɔm na 1995), en di Navy (wey bin de sese 1979) ɔl togɛda ɔnda di Ministry of Defense.
Di RSLAF in ruts go bak te to 1961 we wi gɛt indipɛndɛns frɔm Britain. Bɔt February 18 na di day wey wi de kɛlibret di "nyu" RSLAF—wan army wey no de fɔ fɛt in yon pipul, bɔt fɔ protɛkt dem. Dɛn soldjer ya na pipul dem wey jɔyn wit dɛn yon wil (no kɔnskripshɔn), en dɛn de tray tranga wan fɔ fɔlo di ruls fɔ intanashɔnal human rayts.
Aw Pipul dem na Sierra Leone de Kɛlibret dis Day
Di kɛlibreshɔn fɔ Armed Forces Day na sɔm tin wey bɔdi wan en i de sho di pawa fɔ di miltri. I no to jɔst fɔ miltri pipul nɔmɔ; di pɔblik sef de jɔyn in bɔku bɔku we dem.
1. Di Big Parade
Di tin wey pipul dem de wet fɔ pas ɔl na di big miltri parade. Dɛn de mek dis parade na Freetown, usay di Presidɛnt, we na di Commander-in-Chief fɔ di Armed Forces, de kam fɔ wach. Di soldjer dem de march wit rɛdjimɛntal pɔmpositi, dɛn de sho dɛn fɛtin tin dem, en dɛn de sho se dɛn ridi fɔ ɛni tin. Di Navy en di Air Wing sef de sho wetin dɛn sabi.2. Wreath-Laying Seremoni
Dis na di pat fɔ di day wey de mek pɔsin tink dip. Di Presidɛnt en di big big miltri ɔfisal dem de go na di cenotaph ɔ speshal mɛmorial fɔ put flawa (wreath) fɔ mɛmbɛ di soldjer dem wey dɔn day na fɛt. Dɛn de blo di "Last Post" wit di bɔgul, en pipul dem de tinap fɔ sɔm tɛm witowt tɔk (silent minute) fɔ sho rɛspɛkt.3. Di Presidɛnt in Spich
Di Commander-in-Chief de gi wan spich to di neshɔn. I de tɔk bɔt di gud tin dem wey di army dɔn do na di yia wey pas, di prɔblɛm dem wey dɛn de fes, en di plan dem fɔ mek di soldjer dem dɛn layf bɛtɛ. I de yuz dis tɛm fɔ tɛl di soldjer dem tɛnki fɔ dɛn savis. Fɔ ɛgzampul, na 2025, Presidɛnt Julius Maada Bio bin tɔk bɔt aw di gɔvmɛnt de tray fɔ bwil bɛtɛ os dem fɔ soldjer dem en fɔ brayt dɛn mɔral.4. Kultura Sho dem en Party
Afta di seryɔs pat fɔ di day dɔn, miltri band dem de ple fayn Sierra Leonean myuzik. Dɛn de gɛt kultura dans dem wey de sho di difrɛn trayb dem na di kontri. Na day fɔ di soldjer dem fɛmili sef fɔ gɛt gud tɛm togɛda.Wetin Armed Forces Day de Min fɔ di Pipul
Dis day rili impɔtant fɔ Sierra Leonean dem fɔ bɔku rizin dem:
Pis: I de mek wi mɛmbɛ se pis na sɔm tin wey wi fɔ gard gud gud wan. Wi no want fɔ go bak na di tɛm fɔ wɔ. Patriotism: I de mek di yɔng pipul dem want fɔ sav dɛn kontri. I de bwil di lɔv fɔ Sierra Leone. Trust: I de bwil trust bitwin di miltri en di sivilian dem. Na tɛm fɔ lɛ di army sho se dɛn na pat fɔ di kɔmuniti. Intanashɔnal Reputeshɔn: Sierra Leone in soldjer dem tide de go na bɔku ɔda kontri dem (lɛk Somalia ɔ Sudan) fɔ go kips pis (peacekeeping). Dis day de sho di wɔld se wi gɛt professional army wey de ɛlp ɔda pipul dem.
Advays fɔ di Pipul wey want fɔ Visit Sierra Leone dis Tɛm
If yu na visitɔ ɔ yu de liv na Sierra Leone as ekspat, Armed Forces Day na fayn tɛm fɔ si di kontri in prayd. Bɔt yu fɔ no wan ɔ tu tin dem:
Usay fɔ Go: Di bɛst ples fɔ wach di parade na Freetown, usay di main tin dem de apin. Check di lokal nyuz fɔ no di patikyula ples (lɛk di National Stadium ɔ di State House envirɔnmɛnt). Aw fɔ Drɛs: If yu de go na di pɔblik parade, yu kin drɛs nɔmal. Bɔt if dɛn invayt yu na di wreath-laying ɔ sɔm seryɔs seremoni, i bɛtɛ fɔ drɛs sɔmwe wey sho rɛspɛkt (dark kɔlɔ ɔ rili fayn drɛs). No drɛs lɛk yu de go bich. Trafik: Mɛmbɛ se bɔku rod dem na Freetown kin klos fɔ di parade. Yu fɔ mek yu plan fɔ travel kwik fɔ lɛ yu no go lɔk na trafik. Wɛda: February na di dray sizɔn na Sierra Leone. Di san kin rili at (bitwin 25°C to 30°C). If yu de go wach di parade na pɔblik, kɛri wata en sɔm tin fɔ kɔba yu ɛd frɔm di san. Tek Fotɔ: Be kɛful we yu de tek fotɔ fɔ soldjer dem ɔ miltri tin dem. I bɛtɛ fɔ aks bifɔ yu tek fotɔ, spɛshal wan if yu de na seryɔs miltri eria.
Di Rol fɔ RSLAF na Tide Sierra Leone
Di Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) no de jɔst wet fɔ wɔ nɔmɔ. Dɛn de do bɔku ɔda tin dem fɔ ɛlp di kontri:
- Bɔda Patrɔl: Dɛn de mek sho se nɔto ɛni kanyanya pɔsin de kɔm insay di kontri frɔm Guinea ɔ Liberia.
- Navy Savis: Di Navy de protɛkt wi wata dem frɔm pipul wey de tif wi fis dem (illegal fishing) en dɛn de ɛlp if bot dɔn lɔs na si.
- Disasta Ɛlp: If ebi ren fɔl ɔ lɔndslayd apin (lɛk di wan wey bin apin na Regent na 2017), di soldjer dem na dɛn de de na di frɔnt layn fɔ sev pipul dem.
- Bwilding: RSLAF gɛt dɛn yon ɛnjinia dem wey kin ɛlp fɔ bwil rod dem en brij dem na eria dem usay i ad fɔ rich.
Is Armed Forces Day a Public Holiday?
Yes, Armed Forces Day na pɔblik holiday na di hol Sierra Leone.
Wetin Klos: Gɔvmɛnt ɔfis dem, bɛnk dem, skul dem, en bɔku big big biznɛs dem de klos fɔ di day. Wetin Opin: Sɔm smɔl smɔl makit en shɔp dem kin opin, bɔt di de no de bizi lɛk nɔmal de. Pipul dem de yuz di day fɔ rɛst, fɔ wach di parade na TV, ɔ fɔ go visit fɛmili.
- Travel: Pɔblik transpɔrt (poda-poda en bɔs) de rɔn, bɔt dɛn no bɔku lɛk nɔmal de. If yu de travel bitwin tawn dem, i gud fɔ mek yu plan bifɔ tɛm.
Tink dem fɔ Mɛmbɛ bɔt 2026
As wi de wet fɔ February 18, 2026, di hol kontri de ridi fɔ onor di gallant mɛn en uman dem fɔ di RSLAF. Na tɛm fɔ sho se wi proud fɔ Sierra Leone. If yu na soldjer in fɛmili, if yu na vɛtɛran wey bin fɛt na di wɔ, ɔ if yu na jɔst wan sitizin wey lɔv in kontri, dis day na yu yon.
Mek wi mɛmbɛ di moto fɔ wi miltri en wi kontri: Unity, Freedom, and Justice. Armed Forces Day de sho se widowt pis, wi no go gɛt freedom; en widowt wan tranga army fɔ protɛkt wi, wi pis no go de fɔ lɔng tɛm.
So, na Wednesday, February 18, 2026, mek wi ɔl tinap togɛda fɔ se "Tɛnki" to wi soldjer dem. I lɛf 46 dez nɔmɔ fɔ lɛ wi kɛlibret di pawa en di pis fɔ Sierra Leone
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Armed Forces Day in Sierra Leone
Armed Forces Day in Sierra Leone will be celebrated on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. There are exactly 46 days remaining until this important national event. This date is fixed every year on February 18 to honor the bravery and dedication of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) and to remember the official conclusion of the country's civil war.
Yes, Armed Forces Day is a statutory national public holiday throughout Sierra Leone. On this day, government offices, schools, and many private businesses are closed. This allows citizens across the country to participate in commemorative events, attend military parades, and reflect on the sacrifices made by the men and women in uniform to maintain national peace and security.
The date marks a pivotal moment in Sierra Leone's history. On February 18, 2002, President Alhaji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah officially declared the end of the decade-long civil war. This day also symbolizes the unification of the Army, Navy, and Air Wing into the modern Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) structure under the Ministry of Defence, transitioning from a period of conflict to one of professional national defense.
The celebrations are a blend of solemn remembrance and military pride. The main events usually take place in Freetown and include grand military parades showcasing the discipline of the RSLAF, wreath-laying ceremonies at cenotaphs for fallen heroes, and keynote speeches by the President, who serves as the Commander-in-Chief. Cultural performances and displays of military equipment also take place, drawing large crowds of patriotic citizens.
The RSLAF is a professional, voluntary force tasked with protecting Sierra Leone's borders, ensuring territorial integrity, and safeguarding national interests. Since its unification in 2002, the force has evolved from its colonial roots into a modern institution focused on national security, disaster response, and contributing to international peacekeeping missions, reflecting the country's commitment to global stability.
Visitors can expect a vibrant yet respectful atmosphere. Major roads near parade grounds or government buildings may be closed for military processions, so it is wise to plan travel in advance. The weather in February is typically part of the dry season, meaning it will be warm and sunny, perfect for outdoor viewing. It is a unique opportunity to witness the country's national pride and military heritage firsthand.
While there is no mandatory traditional dress for the public, it is highly recommended to dress modestly and somberly, especially when attending wreath-laying ceremonies or official tributes. Many officials and veterans wear formal attire or full military regalia. For tourists and expats, wearing neat, respectful clothing shows appreciation for the solemnity of the occasion and the sacrifices being honored.
Armed Forces Day serves as a powerful symbol of national reconciliation and resilience. By commemorating the end of the civil war and the creation of a unified military force, the holiday reminds Sierra Leoneans of the progress made toward lasting peace. It promotes patriotism and highlights the RSLAF's role not just in defense, but in the ongoing development and stability of the Republic.
Historical Dates
Armed Forces Day dates in Sierra Leone from 2015 to 2025
| Year | Day of Week | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Tuesday | February 18, 2025 |
| 2024 | Sunday | February 18, 2024 |
| 2023 | Saturday | February 18, 2023 |
| 2022 | Friday | February 18, 2022 |
| 2021 | Thursday | February 18, 2021 |
| 2020 | Tuesday | February 18, 2020 |
| 2019 | Monday | February 18, 2019 |
| 2018 | Sunday | February 18, 2018 |
| 2017 | Saturday | February 18, 2017 |
| 2016 | Thursday | February 18, 2016 |
| 2015 | Wednesday | February 18, 2015 |
Note: Holiday dates may vary. Some holidays follow lunar calendars or have different observance dates. Purple indicates weekends.
About Sierra Leone
- Country Code
- SL
- Continent
- Africa
- Total Holidays
- 10