Sierra Leone’s Deputy Minister of Defence, Colonel (Retired) Muana Brima Massaquoi, has paid tribute to the fallen heroes of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) during a commemorative reception marking the 80th Anniversary of the founding of the PLA.
Speaking at the Chinese Embassy in Freetown, Colonel Massaquoi described the PLA as an embodiment of “military gallantries” and resilience. He noted the sacrifices made by Chinese soldiers during wars and campaigns to liberate their people, calling for a minute of silence to honour those who “endured the long march and emerged victorious to reward the world with a suckling mother of our time called China.”
The event, the first of its kind to be hosted at the Chinese Embassy, was attended by military officials and diplomats. It served as a platform to celebrate military cooperation between Sierra Leone and China, particularly in the areas of naval support, medical assistance, and capacity building.
Colonel Massaquoi outlined that since 1987, China has gifted the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) with 13 patrol boats—six standard and seven inshore—with spare parts. He also acknowledged China’s swift medical response during health emergencies. Notably, during the 2014 Ebola outbreak, five PLA medical teams comprising 200 personnel were dispatched to assist RSLAF.
He further highlighted China’s contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic, including prevention supplies worth $280,000 and a donation of 40,000 vaccine doses in 2021. More recently, Chinese military medical experts collaborated with RSLAF in a six-month Monkeypox (MPOX) training program that reached 2,000 personnel.
Additionally, training opportunities for RSLAF have expanded, with China increasing annual military training slots from 28 to 51, covering a range of professional disciplines.
In his remarks, Chinese Defence Attaché, Senior Colonel Pu Lin, said the event also commemorated the 80th anniversary of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. He revealed that over 35 million Chinese lives were lost between 1931 and 1945 in their struggle against Japanese militarism.
Senior Colonel Pu Lin emphasized the modernization of the PLA, noting it now includes four major services—Army, Navy, Air Force, and Rocket Force—alongside four support arms: Aerospace, Cyberspace, Information Support, and Joint Logistics Support.
He also outlined China’s commitment to international peacekeeping and maritime security. Over the past 35 years, more than 50,000 PLA personnel have served in UN peace missions, with 1,800 currently deployed. Since 2008, 47 Chinese Navy escort fleets have been dispatched to the Gulf of Aden, escorting over 1,500 ships and rescuing nearly 100 vessels, half of which were foreign.
Senior Colonel Pu Lin reaffirmed China’s support for RSLAF capacity building and pledged to deepen military cooperation and mutual understanding between the two nations.
Note: In Chinese military ranking, the rank of Senior Colonel is equivalent to Brigadier-General in the RSLAF.
