On 8^th May 2020, Sierra Leone experienced a 90-minute light on its journey to hope and unity through a National Conference focused on discussing strategies that will urge all political parties and the government to tone down unhelpful rhetorics, utterances and actions.

The country’s democratic pillars of good governance, respect for human rights and protection of national peace and unity are being shaken amidst the country’s ongoing fight against COVID-19. This national conference sent a credible message calling for reason and national decorum.

The comments and questions at the conference made it clear that there is a national desire for calm in the midst of COVID 19 and the rise in violence across the country.

Speakers at the webinar also urged political parties and the government to tone down unhelpful rhetoric and actions like unlawful arrests of high profile opposition politicians and counter-accusations by the country’s two major political parties. This is further worsened by the creation and circulation of widespread conspiracy theories, propaganda videos and audios on social media.

Some of the messages being arrayed around social media verge as hate speech and incitements and further undermine the already fragile foundations of the state. There were many suggestions to continue the event as a monthly series.