Genghis Khan is synonymous with statesmanship, military might, bravery, brilliance, and ruthlessness. The fearless Mongolwarrior solidified his name in human history, conquering half of the World by the time of his death.The Mongol Empire stretched into parts of Asia, Eastern Europe and Iran. Almost nine centuries later, another warrior emerged from a tiny nation in West Africa. General Kaifala is associated with patriotism, public intellectualism, good governance, intelligence, and a military mindset.

The Genghis Khan-led Mongol Army developed a highly sophisticated system of communication during battles (using differently-colored flags). In addition, they were probably the first pre-modern army to introduce medical corps, logistics corps, and above all, astonishing military intelligence tactically and strategically. Furthermore, the Mongols invented the wartime propaganda machine and used the feigned retreat tactic in battles.

Commissioner Kaifala entered public service with a military mindset. The charismatic lawyer and human rights activist declared war on corruption.He backed his words with results. During his first-term tenure, the Barrister led a Commission that intensified public education, progressed down the ranks in Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index, accelerated the conviction rate of people accused of corruption, and recovered huge chunks of stolen cash from corrupt officials. He started his second-term tenure with a Management Retreat (which happened before his Parliamentary approval).

For Francis Ben Kaifala, the Retreat was a time for the Anti-Corruption Commission’s Management to make renewed and robust commitments and review the pro-active plan he designed to re-revolutionize the war against graft. In the case of Khan, the retreat was a military tactic where his Forces pretend to be defeated, fake a retreat, then while they are being pursued, turn around and ambush the enemy.

Even though these two warlords reigned in two different eras, they deployed the retreat tactic to accomplish one major goal – winning the war.

In the case of the Khan, he was obsessed with the expansion of the Mongol Empire; but Francis Ben Kaifala is already making his mark in alleviating Sierra Leone from the menace of corruption.                                            

Paul A. Conteh

Lecturer/Development Specialist/Communications Consultant