# Sierra Leone - United States Department of State

- Sierra Leone National Day Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of StateOn behalf of the United States of America, I offer congratulations to the people of Sierra Leone as you celebrate 63 years of independence.We value Sierra Leone’s commitment to upholding and implementing the Agreement for National Unity to ensure long-term peace and stability and to strengthen the nation’s democratic institutions. As partners and friends, including on the UN Security Council, our shared vision for a bright future for all Sierra Leoneans drives our desire to empower all those working to create a more equitable, peaceful, and inclusive society.I send my best wishes to the people of Sierra Leone. I look forward to deepening our close partnership and advancing our shared goals in the year to come.						Tags																					Bureau of African Affairs																								Office of the Spokesperson																								The Secretary of State																								Sierra Leone
- Sierra Leone HomeReportsBureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices&#8230;Sierra Leone				hide	document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function(event) {	if(window.jQuery) {		jQuery( document ).ready(function() {			if (jQuery(".bc_middle").hasClass("collapse")) {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});				jQuery(".bc_hide").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});			} else {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").hide();			}		});	}});																							2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Sierra Leone																																					Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor																																																																																							Download Report																																																							Translations																																																																 In this section										/																							EXECUTIVE SUMMARY																																													EXECUTIVE SUMMARY																															Section 1. Respect for the Integrity of the Person																																																									a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and Other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings																																																																											b. Disappearance																																																																											c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and Other Related Abuses																																																																			Prison and Detention Center Conditions																																																																																																																		d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention																																																																			Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees																																																																																																																		e. Denial of Fair Public Trial																																																																			Trial Procedures																																																								Political Prisoners and Detainees																																																																																																																		f. Transnational Repression																																																																											g. Property Seizure and Restitution																																																																											h. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence																																																																																	Section 2. Respect for Civil Liberties																																																									a. Freedom of Expression, Including for Members of the Press and Other Media																																																																			Internet Freedom																																																																																																																		b. Freedoms of Peaceful Assembly and Association																																																																			Freedom of Peaceful Assembly																																																																																																																		c. Freedom of Religion																																																																											d. Freedom of Movement and the Right to Leave the Country																																																																											e. Protection of Refugees																																																																																	Section 3. Freedom to Participate in the Political Process																																																									Elections and Political Participation																																																																																	Section 4. Corruption in Government																															Section 5. Governmental Posture Towards International and Nongovernmental Monitoring and Investigation of Alleged Abuses of Human Rights																															Section 6. Discrimination and Societal Abuses																																																									Women																																																																											Systemic Racial or Ethnic Violence and Discrimination																																																																											Children																																																																											Antisemitism																																																																											Trafficking in Persons																																																																											Acts of Violence, Criminalization, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or Expression, or Sex Characteristics																																																																											Persons with Disabilities																																																																											Other Societal Violence or Discrimination																																																																																	Section 7. Worker Rights																																																									a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining																																																																											b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor																																																																											c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment																																																																											d. Discrimination (see section 6)																																																																											e. Acceptable Conditions of Work																																																																																																							EXECUTIVE SUMMARY				There were no significant changes in the human rights situation in Sierra Leone during the year.Significant human rights issues included credible reports of:  arbitrary or unlawful killings; harsh and life-threatening prison conditions; arbitrary arrest or detention; political prisoners or detainees; substantial interference with the freedom of peaceful assembly; serious government corruption; extensive gender-based violence, including domestic or intimate partner violence, sexual violence, child, early, and forced marriage, and female genital mutilation/cutting; laws criminalizing consensual same-sex sexual conduct between adults, although not enforced; and crimes involving violence or threats of violence targeting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or intersex persons.The government took some steps to identify and punish officials who may have committed human rights abuses, but impunity persisted.																														Section 1.													 Respect for the Integrity of the Person												    																																																a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and Other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings										There were credible reports the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings.  On June 25 (the day after the June 24 elections), at the opposition All People’s Congress (APC) party headquarters in Freetown, police reportedly killed a party volunteer.  On June 26, police killed four other APC supporters in the town of Masiaka.  During protests on September 11, police reportedly killed two more individuals.  The Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone (HRCSL) called on the Independent Police Complaint Board, a civilian oversight mechanism, to investigate these security force killings and make recommendations on prosecutions to the Sierra Leone Police (SLP).On April 13, the government’s Special Investigation Committee (SIC) released its report on violent demonstrations in August 2022, during which the SLP shot and killed 30 protesters, primarily unarmed youth, and protesters killed six police officers.  The SIC recommended further investigation to determine the precise number of civilian casualties during the demonstrations.  The SIC further stated there was no evidence to support allegations security forces committed extrajudicial killings on the night of the violent demonstrations.  Critics of the report noted strong ties to the government and security services among a large percentage of the members of the committee.																																				b. Disappearance										There were no reports of disappearances by or on behalf of government authorities.																																				c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and Other Related Abuses										The law prohibited such practices, and unlike in 2022, there were no credible reports government officials employed them.Impunity was a significant problem in the security forces, notably the SLP.																Prison and Detention Center Conditions						Prison and detention center conditions were harsh and sometimes life threatening due to gross overcrowding, lack of sufficient correctional facilities and personnel, inadequate sanitary conditions, and a lack of proper medical care in the Port Loko, Kambia, and Bo prison facilities.Abusive Physical Conditions:  As of August, the country’s 21 prisons, designed for 2,495 inmates, held 5,561 individuals.  ‬The most severe example of overcrowding was in the Freetown Male Correctional Center, designed to hold 324 inmates, which held 1,820 individuals.  Some prison cells measuring six feet by nine feet held nine or more inmates.  The Sierra Leone Correctional Services (SLCS) reported 10 prisons and detention centers were moderately overcrowded, due to delays in trials and sentencing.The HRCSL and Prison Watch Sierra Leone (PWSL) reported overcrowding, unhygienic conditions, and insufficient medical services in SLCS detention centers.  The SLP’s District Human Rights Monitoring Groups (DHRMGs) reported conditions in police station holding cells were poor, especially in small stations outside Freetown such as in Port Loko, Magburuka, Kambia, and Bo districts.  Lack of adequate physical facilities created life-threatening conditions for detainees.  Holding cells in some facilities were often dark with little ventilation, and inmates slept on mattresses on bare floors.  The HRCSL reported poor toilet facilities in most police holding centers.The PWSL and DHRMGs reported cells often lacked proper lighting, space, bedding, ventilation, and protection from infectious diseases and mosquitoes.  For security reasons, SLCS authorities refused to allow inmates to sleep under mosquito nets, requiring inmates to use chemical repellents instead.  Most prisons had piped water, but some inmates lacked sufficient access to potable water.The SLCS reported a shortage of prison staff generally across the country, which resulted in a lack of security that endangered inmates’ safety.Administration:  Senior prison officials responded to complaints.  The HRCSL reported SLCS authorities generally investigated credible allegations of mistreatment of inmates.Independent Monitoring:  The government permitted monitoring by independent nongovernmental observers.  The HRCSL and PWSL reported international monitors had unrestricted access to detention centers and police holding cells.  The HRCSL, Amnesty International, and PWSL monitored prisons frequently.Improvements:  On August 28, the judiciary launched its third “Access to Justice through Judicial Week.”  As assigned by the chief justice, a team of 23 judges undertook expedited processing of 802 cases in two weeks, addressing sexual offenses, larceny, burglary, and murder, to reduce sentences and decongest prison and detention centers.																										d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention										The constitution and law prohibited arbitrary arrest and detention and provided for the right of any person to challenge the lawfulness of their arrest or detention in court.  The government generally did not observe these requirements.																Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees						The law required warrants for searches and arrests of persons taken into custody on criminal grounds, but arrests without warrants were common.  The HRCSL reported the SLP made some arrests without warrants and held suspects under custody beyond the legally mandated period.The law required authorities to inform detainees of the reason for their arrest within 24 hours and charge them in court within 72 hours for suspected misdemeanors or within 10 days for suspected felonies.  According to Amnesty International and HRCSL, detainees were not always informed promptly of the charges brought against them.Detainees had the right to access family members and to consult with an attorney in a timely manner.  According to nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), lawyers typically were allowed unrestricted access to detainees, and the SLP or detention officers largely respected this policy.Arbitrary Arrest:  The EU Election Monitoring group reported authorities arrested and detained APC supporters for periods in excess of constitutional limits during the June elections and later protests.Pretrial Detention:  Lengthy pretrial detention was a significant problem.  Several NGOs, including the Campaign for Human Rights and Development International (CHRDI) and the PWSL, reported pretrial and remand detainees spent an average of two to three years in pretrial detention before courts examined their cases or filed formal charges, frequently exceeding the maximum sentence for the alleged crime.																										e. Denial of Fair Public Trial										The constitution and law provided for an independent judiciary.  NGOs, including the CHRDI and the Center for Accountability and Rule of Law, assessed the judiciary maintained relative independence.  The limited number of judicial magistrates and lawyers, cumbersome judicial procedures, and high court fees restricted access to justice for most citizens.In addition to the formal court system, the HRCSL and the DHRMGs reported local chieftaincy courts administered customary law with lay judges, primarily in rural areas.  Appeals from these lower courts were heard by the magistrate courts.  Paramount chiefs in villages maintained their own police and courts to enforce customary local law.  Chieftaincy police and courts exercised authority to arrest, try, and incarcerate individuals.  According to the HRCSL and NGOs in Bo, Kenema, and Port Loko, traditional trials were generally fair, but there was credible evidence corruption influenced many cases, as paramount chiefs acting as judges routinely accepted bribes and favored wealthier defendants.  The DHRMGs further reported traditional authorities charged offenses not within their jurisdictional powers and violated the rights of persons when prescribing punishment.According to the CHRDI, corruption within the military justice system was less prevalent than within the civilian criminal justice system.																Trial Procedures						The law provided for the right to a fair trial for all defendants, but this right was not always enforced.The limited number of state attorneys resulted in long trial delays.  Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, PWSL, and CHRDI, stated defendants at magistrate court were not always afforded access to counsel.  Attorneys provided at public expense were overburdened with cases, and often defendants who could not afford to pay for an attorney had no access to legal aid prior to trial.Defendants were not always informed promptly or in detail of the charges against them, and they did not always have access to free assistance from an interpreter.  Defendants generally did not have adequate facilities to prepare their defense.  Delays in the appeals process were excessive, sometimes lasting more than two years.According to DHRMGs, laws on gender equality were inconsistently enforced, and many traditional courts ignored the rights of women regarding family law and inheritance.  Juveniles were afforded few rights in the traditional justice system.						Political Prisoners and Detainees						In mid-June, authorities arrested 35 APC supporters participating in a protest against the Electoral Commission.  Authorities released them on June 23, the eve of the June 24 elections, without charge.As part of the Agreement on National Unity signed on October 18 by the government and the APC, the APC provided a list of persons arrested or detained for alleged elections-related or other protest offenses to be released by the government.																										f. Transnational Repression										Not applicable.																																				g. Property Seizure and Restitution										Not applicable.																																				h. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence										The constitution and law prohibited such actions, and the government largely respected these prohibitions.																																					Section 2.													 Respect for Civil Liberties												    																																																a. Freedom of Expression, Including for Members of the Press and Other Media										The constitution and law provided for freedom of expression, including for members of the press and other media, and the government generally respected this right, but there were exceptions.Nongovernmental Impact:  According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, on March 28, supporters of the ruling Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) assaulted Radio Fountain of Peace journalist Alie Melvin Towaka while he covered an event in Moyamba-Southern Province.Reporters Without Borders stated APC supporters harassed and intimidated their staff during its coverage of a June 14 APC campaign event.On August 16, a major independent national radio station, Radio Democracy, ceased transmitting shortly before the scheduled broadcast of a prerecorded interview with a resident diplomat concerning the June general election.  The interview leaked on social media and was broadcast in full the following day, with the minister of information and civic education present to provide a rebuttal and deny the government caused the station to cease broadcasting.  Journalist Musa Kamara, who conducted the interview, received several anonymous death threats after the broadcast.																Internet Freedom						The government did not routinely restrict or disrupt access to the internet or censor online content.The law granted the government the power to designate certain computer systems as “critical” infrastructure and outlined the process for the search and seizure of electronic devices by law enforcement personnel or “other authorized persons.”  Critics of the law raised concerns the law could be used to target opponents of the government by characterizing online criticism as “cybercrimes.”																										b. Freedoms of Peaceful Assembly and Association										There were reports the government restricted the right to peaceful assembly.  The constitution and law provided for the freedom of association.																Freedom of Peaceful Assembly						The constitution and law provided for freedom of assembly.  The law, however, required prior coordination of demonstrations with the SLP.  Civil society groups believed the law only required groups to notify police of their intent to demonstrate, but police stated the inspector general of police had to approve protests.  Opposition leaders and civil society organizations complained police routinely denied permits for protests that would be critical of the president.While the October report of the EU election observation mission stated the fundamental right of freedom of assembly was largely respected during campaigning, and observers found political rallies largely went well in major areas, alleged ruling SLPP supporters in rural areas in the Southern and Eastern Provinces attempted to disrupt APC party rallies in ruling party strongholds.  Unknown assailants committed an arson attack on the APC party headquarters in Bo.																										c. Freedom of Religion										See the Department of State’s International Religious Freedom Report at  https://www.state.gov/religiousfreedomreport/.																																				d. Freedom of Movement and the Right to Leave the Country										The constitution and law provided for freedom of internal movement, foreign travel, emigration, and repatriation, and the government generally respected these rights.																																				e. Protection of Refugees										The government cooperated with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and other humanitarian organizations in providing protection and assistance to refugees, returning refugees, or asylum seekers, as well as other persons of concern.Access to Asylum:  The law provided for the granting of asylum or refugee status, and the government had established a system for protecting refugees.																																					Section 3.													 Freedom to Participate in the Political Process												    																						The constitution and law provided citizens the ability to choose their government in free and fair periodic elections held by secret ballot and based on universal and equal suffrage.																										Elections and Political Participation										Abuses or Irregularities in Recent Elections:  National elections in June were widely reported by domestic and international observers to have logistical problems and delays on election day and a lack transparency during the tabulation process.  There were reports of attempted intimidation by alleged supporters of the ruling party at some opposition APC rallies.  There were also reports of threats against and intimidation of domestic observers by government and government supporters.Participation of Women and Members of Marginalized or Vulnerable Groups:  Despite a large increase in representation for women in parliament, cultural practices, traditional gender roles, and intimidation inhibited women’s full political participation, and limited the number of women who successfully contested for the office of paramount chief (a parallel system of tribal government operated in each of the 190 chiefdoms).All citizens had the right to vote, but citizenship at birth was granted only to persons of “Negro-African” descent, thus disenfranchising the significant number of Lebanese and other “non-Negro-African” persons who were born in and resided in the country (see section 6, Children, Birth Registration).  Persons of non-Negro-African groups could apply to be naturalized.  If naturalized they were eligible to vote in all national and local elections, but no naturalized citizen could run for public office.																																					Section 4.													 Corruption in Government												    																						The law provided criminal penalties for corruption by officials; however, the government did not implement or enforce the law effectively.  There were numerous reports of government corruption.Corruption:  The government made some progress in fighting corruption in recent years.  The Anti-Corruption Commission investigated and prosecuted corruption cases.  Some observers accused the commission of targeting opposition politicians while failing to investigate credible allegations of corruption against the ruling SLPP, including those close to the president.In May, a court granted Samura Kamara, opposition presidential candidate, an adjournment of his pending corruption trial, to enable him to campaign in the June elections.  He faced allegations of misappropriation in 2021 of funds at the country’s UN mission chancery in New York.  Kamara denied the allegations, claiming the case was politically motivated.  The case resumed in July.For additional information concerning corruption in the country, please see the Department of State’s Investment Climate Statement for the country and the Department of State’s International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, which includes information on financial crimes.																											Section 5.													 Governmental Posture Towards International and Nongovernmental Monitoring and Investigation of Alleged Abuses of Human Rights												    																						A variety of domestic and international human rights groups generally operated without government restrictions to monitor or investigate human rights conditions or cases and publish their findings.  Government officials often were cooperative and responsive to the views of these groups and generally acknowledged the problems presented.  The government, including security forces, generally responded to human rights concerns raised by civil society organizations but was at times slow to implement their recommendations.Government Human Rights Bodies:  The HRCSL was the government’s primary institution dedicated to monitoring and investigating human rights abuses.  The HRCSL operated without government or party interference, and observers considered it relatively effective.																											Section 6.													 Discrimination and Societal Abuses												    																																																Women										Rape and Domestic Violence:  The law criminalized rape of both women and men, with a statutory minimum of 15 years’ imprisonment for offenders.  The law specifically prohibited spousal rape.  The law also criminalized domestic violence, punishable by a substantial fine and two years’ imprisonment.  Although awareness of rape and domestic violence increased over the years, according to the HRCSL, indictments were rare, especially in rural areas, due to medical reporting requirements, high court fees, corruption, and an inefficient judicial system.  Rape was common, and survivors of sexual offenses, often at the encouragement of their families, tended to settle out of court with offenders.  As a result, a culture of impunity persisted, which perpetuated gender-based violence.  Compared with 2022, the Family Support Unit (FSU) of the SLP reported a decrease in rape cases.Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C):  The law did not prohibit FGM/C for women or girls.  A May 1 BBC report estimated approximately 83 percent of women and girls ages 15 to 49 had experienced FGM/C, a decrease from a 2013 report of 90 percent.  The percentage of women who had undergone FGM/C was higher in rural areas than in urban areas.Discrimination:  The law provided for the same legal status and rights for men and women under family, labor, property, and inheritance law.  The government did not enforce the law effectively.Authorities at the Ministry of Social Welfare Affairs reported women faced widespread societal discrimination.  Their rights were largely guided by customary law, particularly in matters of marriage, divorce, property, and inheritance in all areas except Freetown.  Formal law applied in customary as well as formal courts, but customary judges had limited or no legal training and often were unaware of formal law or chose to ignore it.  Women’s rights and status under customary law varied significantly depending upon the ethnic group to which they belonged, but such rights and status were routinely inferior to those of men.  Under customary law in many parts of the country, women’s status in society was equal to that of a child.  Women were frequently perceived to be the property of their husbands and to be inherited on his death with his other property.  NGOs and HRCSL reported women experienced discrimination in rural areas.Authorities and local NGOs stated women had equal access to education and health facilities, but they did not have equal economic opportunities or social freedoms.  Women experienced discrimination in hiring, and employers commonly dismissed women who became pregnant during their first year on the job.  The law did not prohibit dismissal of pregnant workers.  The law prohibited women from working in mines or any underground work site.The Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs had a mandate to protect the rights of women, but most international and domestic NGOs asserted the ministry did not address its assigned tasks effectively.Reproductive Rights:  There were no reports of coerced abortion or involuntary sterilization on the part of government authorities.Vulnerable populations were often not provided the opportunity to grant informed consent.  According to the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, teenage pregnancies, restrictive abortion laws, and gender-based violence contributed to the health-related problems in the country.  According to health authorities, FGM/C increased the risk of childbirth complications, maternal death, and infertility, in addition to posing health risks associated with the procedure itself.Social and cultural barriers sometimes limited access to sexual and reproductive health services.  Religious, social, and cultural barriers adversely limited access to contraception.  The law prohibited access to contraception for individuals younger than age 18 without parental consent.  The availability of contraception at health facilities varied, and individuals did not have consistent access to their specific method of choice.  Emergency contraception was not always available as part of family planning method mix across the country.According to the 2019 Demographic and Health Survey, the maternal mortality rate was 717 per 100,000 live births, and 87 percent of births were attended by a skilled health attendant.  Major factors in the high maternal death rate included poverty; distance to medical facilities; lack of access to sufficient information regarding availability of health-care services; inadequate and poor-quality services, especially in remote settings; cultural beliefs and practices; early marriages and childbearing; delay in decision making to seek health-care services; and malnutrition.Inaccessibility of contraceptives for adolescents contributed to the adolescent birth rate of 101 births per 1,000 girls ages 15 to 19.  According to the 2019 Demographic and Health Survey, the proportion of teenagers who began childbearing rose rapidly with age, from 4 percent at age 15 to 45 percent at age 19.  Adolescent mothers were also more likely to experience adverse pregnancy outcomes.The government had “one-stop centers” for survivors of gender-based violence in government referral hospitals in six districts across the country, in Kabala, Kailahun, Moyamba, Port Loko, Pujehun, and the King Harman Road Government Referral Hospital.  These centers provided comprehensive care including psychosocial, legal, medical, and shelter assistance to survivors of sexual violence, including access to sexual and reproductive health services.  According to the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs, women and girls represented more than 99 percent of gender-based violence survivors.  Emergency contraception was not always available as part of the clinical management of rape cases.Lack of access to adequate menstrual hygiene management facilities and supplies impacted women and girls’ participation in educational, social, and economic opportunities.  According to the 2017 Sierra Leone Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, approximately 20 percent of women reported not being able to participate in social activities, school, or work due to menstruation difficulties in the previous 12 months.  The Hands Off Our Girls Initiative promoted by First Lady Fatima Bio, together with the inclusion of comprehensive sexuality education in the primary and secondary school curriculum, sought to improve access on a range of activities.																																				Systemic Racial or Ethnic Violence and Discrimination										There were laws to protect racial or ethnic minorities from violence or discrimination, while other laws institutionalized some forms of discrimination based on race and ethnicity.  Authorities made some efforts to enforce these laws.Strong ethnic loyalties, biases, and stereotypes existed among all ethnic groups.  Ethnic loyalty was an important factor in the government, armed forces, and business.  Complaints of ethnic discrimination in government appointments and contract assignments were common.  Some non-Mende populations alleged discrimination in government employment, as the ruling SLPP was predominantly Mende.Residents of non-African descent faced some institutionalized discrimination, particularly in the areas of citizenship and nationality.  Citizens of non-African descent were barred from holding public office.The government made some efforts to address discrimination, such as equal access to education, medical care, employment, and credit.  The government made limited efforts to address discrimination and bias against albinos and members of Rastafarian religious groups.																																				Children										Birth Registration:  Birth registration was provided on a discriminatory basis.  The constitution restricted citizenship derived by birth to children with at least one citizen parent or grandparent of Negro-African descent.  Non-Africans who lived in the country for at least five years (two years for foreigners married to citizens) could apply for naturalization, subject to presidential approval.  Children not meeting the criteria had to be registered in their parents’ countries of origin.Child Abuse:  The law prohibited child abuse, including sexual abuse of children.  The government effectively enforced the law, and authorities generally took cases of child sexual abuse more seriously than adult rape cases.  A pattern of violence against and abuse of children existed, and according to FSU regional offices in Bo, Kambia, Kenema, Makeni, and Port Loko, it increased when schools were closed during the summer months.  The FSU and the DHRMGs stated in many cases of child sexual assault parents accepted payment instead of taking perpetrators to court due to difficulties dealing with the justice system, fear of public shame, and economic hardship.  The FSU reported an increase from 2022 in cases of sexual assault of children.Child, Early, and Forced Marriage:  Under the Child Rights Act of 2007, the legal minimum age for marriage was 18; however, the Customary Marriage and Divorce Act of 2009 allowed children to be married with parental consent and did not stipulate a minimum age of marriage.  Due to this conflict in the law, the government faced difficulties in effectively enforcing the legal minimum age in the Child Rights Act.  The government continued efforts to prevent teenage pregnancy with implementation of a years-long national strategy.The NGO Girls Not Brides stated child marriage was most prevalent in Kambia, Koinadugu, Port Loko, and Tonkolili.  Thirty percent of girls reportedly married before they turned 18, and 9 percent married before age 15.  Additionally, 7 percent of boys married before age 18.  The Hands Off Our Girls Initiative addressed child marriage and reduction of teenage pregnancy.The NGO Save the Children reported girls most vulnerable to early marriage included those from certain ethnic groups living in poor rural areas in the Eastern, Southern, and Northern Provinces, where child marriage rates were more than 40 percent, compared with 20 percent in the Western Province.Sexual Exploitation of Children:  The law criminalized the sexual exploitation and sale, grooming, offering, or use of children for exploitation, child sex trafficking, and child pornography, although enforcement was problematic and conviction numbers were low.  The minimum age of consensual sex was 18.																																				Antisemitism										There was a very small Jewish community.  There were no reports of antisemitic incidents.																																				Trafficking in Persons										See the Department of State’s Trafficking in Persons Report at  https://www.state.gov/trafficking-in-persons-report/.																																				Acts of Violence, Criminalization, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or Expression, or Sex Characteristics										Criminalization:  The law criminalized same-sex sexual activity between men, but the law was not enforced.  There was no legal prohibition against sexual activity between women.Violence and Harassment:  Police generally did not incite, perpetrate, or condone violence or harassment against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or intersex (LGBTQI+) individuals.  LGBTQI+ advocates reported violence and blackmail against LGBTQI+ persons.  Police did not generally abuse or harass those reporting such abuse, but they were reluctant to act on the basis of such reports.  There were no reports of action by government authorities to investigate or punish state or nonstate actors complicit in violence or abuses of LGBTQI+ persons.Discrimination:  The law did not prohibit discrimination by state or nonstate actors based on sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or sex characteristics.  LGBTQI+ persons faced widespread discrimination in health care, housing, education, employment, family life, and policing, although men did not fear arrest, and police acceptance of LGBTQI+ activities increased.  The government made limited efforts to address discrimination and bias against LGBTQI+ persons.NGO Dignity Association reported LGBTQI+ persons faced discrimination in accessing health services; many LGBTQI+ persons chose not to seek medical care due to the risk their right to confidentiality would be violated and their sexual orientation would be revealed.  LGBTQI+ persons also faced discrimination in housing, as families frequently shunned and expelled LGBTQI+ children from their homes.  Adults risked lease termination if their LGBTQI+ status became public.  According to the Dignity Association, patriarchal attitudes resulted in social discrimination both in the general population and within the LGBTQI+ community.Availability of Legal Gender Recognition:  The law provided no legal gender recognition process.Involuntary or Coercive Medical or Psychological Practices:  Rape of LGBTQI+ women was common, and activists found “corrective” rape to be one of the prevalent abuses committed against lesbian, bisexual, and queer women.  There were no reports of medically unnecessary and irreversible “normalization” surgeries performed on children or nonconsenting adult intersex persons.Restrictions of Freedom of Expression, Association, or Peaceful Assembly:  The law did not restrict the rights of persons to speak out on LGBTQI+ human rights.  LGBTQI+ civil society organizations contended, however, that because the law prohibited sexual activity between men, it limited LGBTQI+ persons from exercising their freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly.																																				Persons with Disabilities										Persons with disabilities could access education and transportation on an equal basis with others.  The law mandated access to these services and prohibited discrimination against persons with disabilities in employment and provision of state services, including judicial services.  They could not access employment, health care, or public buildings on an equal basis.  NGOs stated the government did not effectively enforce the law or implement programs to make these services accessible; information was not available in accessible formats.  Children with disabilities were also less likely to attend school than other children.Persons with disabilities frequently experienced discrimination and unfair treatment in schooling, employment, housing, and daily life.  In view of the high rate of general unemployment, work opportunities for persons with disabilities were even more limited, and begging was commonplace.  Almost two-thirds of persons with disabilities had no job or income; many became victims of crime, were homeless, and lived with emotional trauma, particularly those mutilated or dismembered by rebel forces during the civil war of 1991-2002.  Relevant disability laws were not well implemented, and the government did not enforce its protections against discrimination in hiring.The National Commission for Persons with Disabilities-Sierra Leone and NGOs reported considerable discrimination against persons with mental disabilities.  Most persons with mental disabilities received no treatment or public services.																																				Other Societal Violence or Discrimination										The HRCSL and local NGOs documented discrimination against persons with albinism.  The Albinism Royal Foundation Sierra Leone reported persons with albinism had the highest number of dropouts from schools and other learning institutions due to bullying, inattention, poverty, illness, and rejection.The law prohibited discrimination based on actual, perceived, or suspected HIV status, but society stigmatized persons with HIV and AIDS.  According to the People Living with HIV Stigma Index report for 2020, approximately 47 percent of respondents disagreed that disclosure of their HIV status had become easier over time, and 48 percent reported disclosure of their HIV status to friends, family, or partners was not a positive experience.  The report also noted a small increase in unemployment among those living with HIV, from 38 percent in 2013 to 40 percent in 2019.																																					Section 7.													 Worker Rights												    																																																a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining										The law provided for the right of workers in both the public and private sectors to join independent unions of their choice without prior authorization, bargain collectively, and conduct legal strikes.  The law did not prohibit discrimination against union members or prohibit employer interference in the establishment of unions.  The government could require workers provide written notice to police of an intent to strike at least 21 days before the planned strike.The government generally protected the right to bargain collectively and the right to strike.  Collective bargaining was widespread in the formal sector, and most enterprises were covered by collective bargaining agreements on wages and working conditions.  Although the law protected collective bargaining activity, the law required it take place in trade group negotiating councils, each of which had to have an equal number of employer and worker representatives.  There were no other limits on the scope of collective bargaining or legal exclusions of other groups of workers.While the HRCSL and labor unions reported the government generally protected the right of workers in the private sector to form or join unions, the government did not enforce applicable law through regulatory or judicial action.The government generally respected freedom of association and effectively enforced governing laws.  All unions were independent of political parties and the government.  Some trade unions had close relationships with the government, such as the Teachers’ Union and the Doctors Association.  There were no reports of labor union members being arrested for participating in industrial actions or other union activities.Penalties for violations of association, bargaining, and the right to strike were less than with those for analogous violations such as civil rights violations.  Penalties were sometimes applied against violators.																																				b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor										See the Department of State’s annual Trafficking in Persons Report at  https://www.state.gov/trafficking-in-persons-report/.																																				c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment										See the Department of Labor’s Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor at  https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/resources/reports/child-labor/findings/&nbsp;.																																				d. Discrimination (see section 6)																																														e. Acceptable Conditions of Work										Wage and Hour Laws:  There was a national minimum wage, but it fell below the basic poverty line in the country.  Although not stipulated by law, the customary workweek was 40 hours (60 hours for security personnel).  There was no statutory definition of overtime wages to be paid if an employee’s work hours exceed 40.  Alleged violations of wage, hour and overtime were common in informal artisanal diamond mining, domestic work, and agriculture.Occupational Safety and Health:  There were no occupational safety and health (OSH) standards generally appropriate for the main industries in the country.  The government did not proactively identify unsafe conditions, but only responded to worker complaints, if at all.  Workers could not remove themselves from situations endangering health or safety without jeopardy to their employment.A union could make a formal complaint regarding a hazardous working condition; if the complaint was rejected, the union could issue a 21-day strike notice.  The law also required employers to provide protective clothing and safety devices to employees whose work involves “risk of personal safety or potential health hazard.”  The law protected both foreign and domestic workers.  According to NGOs, alleged violations of OSH standards were common in the health, medical, and mining sectors.Wage, Hour, and OSH Enforcement:  The government did not effectively enforce minimum wage, hour, and OSH standards, particularly in informal sectors, and the penalties for noncompliance were not commensurate with those for similar violations such as fraud or negligence.  Penalties were rarely applied against violators.  The Ministry of Labour and Social Security was responsible for enforcing labor law, including wage, hour, and OSH regulations, but the number of labor inspectors was insufficient to enforce compliance.  Approximately 90 percent of laborers worked in the informal sector, predominantly in subsistence or small-scale agriculture.																																				    							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Respect for the Integrity of the Person																																							a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and Other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings																																																						b. Disappearance																																																						c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and Other Related Abuses																																																				Prison and Detention Center Conditions																																																																																				d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention																																																				Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees																																																																																				e. Denial of Fair Public Trial																																																				Trial Procedures																																												Political Prisoners and Detainees																																																																																				f. Transnational Repression																																																						g. Property Seizure and Restitution																																																						h. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence																																																			Section 2. Respect for Civil Liberties																																							a. Freedom of Expression, Including for Members of the Press and Other Media																																																				Internet Freedom																																																																																				b. Freedoms of Peaceful Assembly and Association																																																				Freedom of Peaceful Assembly																																																																																				c. Freedom of Religion																																																						d. Freedom of Movement and the Right to Leave the Country																																																						e. Protection of Refugees																																																			Section 3. Freedom to Participate in the Political Process																																							Elections and Political Participation																																																			Section 4. Corruption in Government																Section 5. Governmental Posture Towards International and Nongovernmental Monitoring and Investigation of Alleged Abuses of Human Rights																Section 6. Discrimination and Societal Abuses																																							Women																																																						Systemic Racial or Ethnic Violence and Discrimination																																																						Children																																																						Antisemitism																																																						Trafficking in Persons																																																						Acts of Violence, Criminalization, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or Expression, or Sex Characteristics																																																						Persons with Disabilities																																																						Other Societal Violence or Discrimination																																																			Section 7. Worker Rights																																							a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining																																																						b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor																																																						c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment																																																						d. Discrimination (see section 6)																																																						e. Acceptable Conditions of Work																																																									Tags																					Bureau of African Affairs																								Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor																								Sierra Leone
- Keynote Address on the Legacy of the Special Court for Sierra Leone Beth Van Schaack, Ambassador-at-Large for Global Criminal JusticeOffice of Global Criminal JusticeFreetown, Sierra LeoneAs DeliveredGood evening. It is a pleasure to be with you tonight to acknowledge and celebrate of the legacy of the Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL). I am thrilled to be here with so many distinguished colleagues and those who were instrumental in shaping the history and legacy of the SCSL. I know that at this point, protocol would advise that I identify the many dignitaries and experts present here with us, but we would be here all evening, so I will simply say what an inspiration it was to see so many of you reuniting with old friends and former colleagues over the course of this remarkable day. It’s an honor to be invited to reflect on this institution and its impact with so many of you who worked directly with the people of Sierra Leone to advance justice.When I consider the ongoing evolution of the field of transitional justice, it is difficult to overstate the impact of the SCSL. When it was conceptualized and established in 2002, we operated in a very different environment. The focus in post-conflict situations was overwhelmingly on large, generally expensive, internationally-run tribunals, most notably the International Criminal Tribunals for Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia, but also the International Criminal Court (ICC), whose Rome Statute came into force later that same year.These were and remain extremely valuable institutions in their own right, but the international community at the time did not yet recognize many of the standards for successful transitional justice that we now take as givens: the importance of integrating criminal institutions with other transitional justice mechanisms; the incorporation of domestic law and the cultural context; and the imperative of taking a survivor-centered approach that specifically addresses crimes committed against marginalized or vulnerable groups, like women and children, and is responsive to their unique needs. The SCSL advanced the state-of-the-art in all of these areas. The SCSL also showed that justice could be delivered with a more reasonable price-tag.Of course, some of the Court’s innovations are those we still apply today, and some demonstrated where improvement or a course correction was needed. We should be open about talking about any missteps. But even in areas where the SCSL fell short, it provided valuable lessons for the institutions that came after it and indelibly shaped the future of international criminal justice.First, and perhaps most importantly, the SCSL was the world’s first hybrid tribunal created by UN treaty with a member state. The Government of Sierra Leone requested that the United Nations work with it to create the tribunal—an admirable example of a state acknowledging harm done, including by state actors, and accepting the need to hold those responsible accountable. This is something we see too little of today.At a time when the norm was UN-run courts staffed by internationals, the SCSL incorporated Sierra Leonean law and had both domestic and international staff. By being located largely in Freetown, it was accessible to Sierra Leoneans in a way the Rwandan and Yugoslav tribunals were not.The ICC has always been envisioned as a court of last resort, only stepping in when domestic jurisdictions are unable or unwilling to prosecute perpetrators themselves. But as we know, legacies of mass atrocities often render domestic justice systems ill-equipped to deal with their aftermath. Increasingly, hybrid courts are emerging as the ideal model, which can benefit from international expertise while remaining tailored to the local context and victims’ needs.Innovative hybrid courts in the decades since the SCSL have included the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (a model of hybridity not to be repeated); the Extraordinary African Chambers, created with Senegal for the trial of Hissène Habré; and the CAR Special Criminal Court, which is part of a unique three-tiered justice system that also includes the ICC. Indeed, my Deputy and a team from my office are in CAR now looking for ways to strengthen the SCC.The success and promise of these endeavors were at top of mind as the United States developed our views on a special tribunal to prosecute the crime of aggression against Ukraine, championing the benefits of an internationalized model. The SCSL model is not one that will work in this context, however, because the UN General Assembly does not have the power under the UN Charter to create a coercive institution that can hold Russians to account. However, other hybridity options exist and are being explored now by a core group of states committed to seeing the crime of aggression prosecuted with international assistance.None of these efforts would have been possible without the SCSL paving the way.The SCSL made so many contributions to the field of international justice—in institutional design, jurisprudence, and procedure, including establishing the essentiality of outreach processes. In a notable achievement, the SCSL orchestrated the first conviction of a former head of state by an internationalized tribunal, demonstrating that no one is above the law. The Court found former Liberian President Charles Taylor guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity for planning, aiding, and abetting acts in Sierra Leone, though he reportedly never set foot in the country during the period in which the crimes occurred. This case is often cited for the proposition that members of the so-called troika (heads of state, heads of government, and foreign ministers) do not enjoy head-of-state immunity before an international tribunal, since Taylor was indicted while he was still in power in neighboring Liberia.The SCSL also generated important jurisprudence on aiding and abetting liability when it ruled that customary international law requires evidence that the accomplice knowingly made a substantial contribution to criminal conduct by the direct perpetrator. In so ruling, it rejected an alternative formulation that required proof that the accomplice intended for the crimes to be committed. This precedent has been picked up by other courts around the world, including in our own system.Taylor’s transfer to The Hague for trial was not without controversy, a valuable consideration for future tribunals weighing security risks against the needs and desires of victims and the importance of seeing justice served at home. However, the fact that the SCSL envisioned the possibility that some trials might need to take place outside the country—and created dedicated provisions for this contingency—is groundbreaking. It shows that even in a difficult operating environment, justice can find a way. It also demonstrates that the strongman who flees their country to seek safe harbor elsewhere cannot escape justice. Nor can they use the threat of destabilization if they return to avoid facing trial: we can simply relocate the proceedings. The Rome Statute contains a similar provision for sitting outside of The Hague, and it is hoped that someday the ICC will be able to hold hearings in situ within affected communities.One final point: The SCSL Prosecutors and judges exhibited great courage in prosecuting—in equal measure—members of the Civil Defense Forces (CDF), who were viewed by many as war heroes, rather than war criminals, because they were attempting to restore peace in Sierra Leone by opposing the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) and Revolutionary United Front (RUF). This, too, demonstrates that international law applies to all armed actors, no matter how just their cause.The SCSL’s legal legacy is particularly important for crimes committed against women and children, who suffered disproportionately in the Sierra Leonean war. It was the first UN court to convict defendants for recruiting and using child soldiers, which established precedent for numerous judgments in the ICC and elsewhere.From the very beginning, the SCSL’s prosecution teams prioritized the investigation of sexual and gender-based crimes by integrating gender expertise into multi-disciplinary investigation teams. Combined with the court’s presence in country and sensitivity to the local context, this undoubtedly contributed to the collection of strong evidence on sexual and gender-based crimes, which is often challenging when survivors unfairly face stigma for the crimes committed against them.The SCSL issued the first conviction for the crime against humanity of sexual slavery, building upon the precedent that had been set by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, which prosecuted the crime of enslavement. It also found that forced marriage constitutes an inhumane act, thus allowing it to be prosecuted as a crime against humanity. The Prosecutor, Judge Theresa Dougherty in dissent, and the Appeals Chamber of the SCSL all recognized that forced conjugal associations impose multifaceted harms and undermine different values than the concepts of sexual slavery or rape alone. This precedent paved the way for similar judgments in the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia and at the ICC. Indeed, the Appeals Chamber of the ECCC built on this precedent by recognizing that men subjected to mass forced marriages by the Khmer Rouge can also be victims of forced marriage.Finally, the SCSL was the first special court to operate simultaneously alongside a truth commission. Innovators made a considered choice to erect a fire wall between these two institutions. By determining that the Truth Commission would not give information to the Court, it created space for perpetrators to speak before the Truth Commission without fear of being prosecuted as a result of their testimony.This was another controversial decision, and one that led to some friction between the institutions. However, regardless of what lessons future models can derive from the specifics of this arrangement, the interaction of the two at the time was groundbreaking in and of itself. It demonstrated that criminal prosecutions could and must operate within the larger framework of other transitional justice mechanisms, that criminal trials are not the only source of justice, and that justice architects must take a holistic approach to address victims’ needs. We now recognize the value of other forms of justice—truth-telling, restorative justice and restitution, rehabilitation, memorialization, guarantees of non-repetition, and even reconciliation, but only if the spirit moves victims. In terms of guarantees of non-repetition, Sierra Leone established a number of important new human rights bodies, all inspired by the work of the TRC and SCSL.The SCSL was not without its flaws: it bears emphasizing the untenability of creating justice institutions that are entirely reliant upon voluntary funding, an arrangement that consigns court principals to spend valuable time fundraising from donors rather than delivering justice. This funding formula also raised concerns about equality of arms and the risk of political manipulation by donors. We do see some evolution within the United Nations on this front. There is a greater willingness today to commit UN-assessed funds to justice mechanisms, such as the International, Impartial, and Independent Mechanism (IIIM) devoted to investigating crimes in Syria. In this regard, a recent resolution by the UN Security Council allowing for UN-assessed funds to support African Union peacekeeping operations when they are doing the business of the United Nations is notable. This should enable more reliable funding for justice efforts and institutions that are proceeding with a UN imprimatur, including potentially ICC cases stemming from a UN Security Council referral—something that is envisioned by the Rome Statute but that some Council members have resisted to date.Of course, the most important legacy of the SCSL is not found in its establishment of a viable hybrid model, or in its contributions to international criminal jurisprudence, or in its novel approaches to transitional justice. Rather, the most important legacy is reserved for Sierra Leonean victims and survivors. This is not because of the impact of the Court on their lives or their country, though those are substantial. It is because they are the ones who fought for justice. They stood up and testified before the Court, came forward with their stories, and refused to accept that crimes committed against them would go unpunished. They reinforced for the world that there is no peace without justice. This precedent continues to inspire civil society actors today seeking justice in their own systems.Which brings us to today, and what the SCSL and Sierra Leonean story can show us as we all continue to fight for justice worldwide.It would be understandable to see a legacy conference devoted to the SCSL reflecting solely on the past. But we must see it also as a call to action. Unfortunately, we need only look around the world today to know that our work fighting for justice is far from over.In a few days, I will travel to Liberia. The Liberian civil wars ran parallel to Sierra Leone’s in many ways. However, while the Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Commission was admirable, none of its recommendations has been implemented in Liberia. To this day not one person has been held accountable for war crimes in Liberian courts. Instead, courts around the world—including in my own system—are delivering justice under extraterritorial jurisdictional principles that apply to international crimes. Justice in Liberia has been blocked in part because those accused of some of the most atrocious acts remain in positions of power. And those fighting for justice too often face threats to their safety, as we have heard today. The legacy of impunity continues to infect society today.But, as we have seen time and time again, justice delayed is not always justice denied. I am inspired by the Liberians—many of whom are here today—who continue to demand accountability and will not let their stories be forgotten, even decades after the conflict. Their work is paying off. Just a few weeks ago, newly elected President Joseph Boakai announced in his inaugural address his intention to create the long-awaited War Crimes and Economic Crimes Court. The United States continues to stand with Liberians as they take on these challenges.They are not alone in the region. Take Guinea, where in 2022 a trial commenced for the 2009 Stadium Massacre, in which more than 150 protestors were killed and dozens more injured and subject to sexual violence. Fourteen years later, the people of Guinea saw the start of the trial of those deemed responsible. Or Chad, where victims never stopped fighting for the prosecution of former dictator Hissène Habré. Habré was convicted by the Extraordinary African Chambers in Senegal in 2016, twenty-six years after he fell from power.Finally, I want to highlight the extraordinary work being done in The Gambia, which is building on the SCSL’s legacy with a hybrid court of its own. In the aftermath of horrific atrocities committed under the regime of Yahya Jammeh, Gambia’s Truth, Reconciliation, and Reparations Commission heard from more than 400 witnesses. In response to its recommendations, the Government of The Gambia is now creating the framework for trials in both the domestic system and in a hybrid court in partnership with ECOWAS.This creative arrangement innovates on the SCSL’s hybrid model to be even more regionally and culturally suited to the West African context and acknowledges that the abuses of the Jammeh regime had lasting impacts, including on victims, throughout the region. We applaud ECOWAS for taking on this role. Indeed, these countries, following the lead of Sierra Leone and building on the legacy of the SCSL, are poised to become leaders in transitional justice for the continent and the world. It falls to us to support these efforts by standing with The Gambia and ECOWAS as they take on new challenges, by refusing to rest until we see justice in Liberia, and by continuing to amplify the voices of victims in Guinea, Chad, and beyond to end impunity once and for all.I hope that as these efforts continue, these countries will offer examples of how justice contributes to lasting peace, how victims can step forward and speak their truths, and how there is no safe haven for those who are responsible for international crimes. As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.” But it doesn’t bend on its own; rather, it requires people like you all—whether you are a diplomat, a survivor, a private lawyer, a human rights advocate, a policymaker, a young person—to exert the effort.And we need your leadership to spread these lessons throughout the African continent and inspire the rest of the world. We are ready to stand with you as you carry on this admirable institution’s legacy. Thank you for this valuable moment of reflection, discussion, and, I hope, inspiration for the future. I look forward to partnering with all of you as we continue the fight.						Tags																					Bureau of African Affairs																								Office of Global Criminal Justice																								Sierra Leone
- Digital Press Briefing on Power of Democracy and the Future of Peacekeeping in Africa After the AU Financing Security Council Resolution U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Ambassador Linda Thomas-GreenfieldDownload or listen to the audio file here .MODERATOR:  Good afternoon and welcome to everyone from the London International Media Hub, teaming up today with our colleagues from the Africa Regional Media Hub.  I’d like to welcome our participants who are logging in from across the African continent and globally to thank all of you for joining this discussion.  Today, we’re very pleased to be joined by U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield.We’ll begin today’s call with opening remarks from Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield and then we’ll turn to your questions.  We’ll try to get to as many of them as possible during the briefing.As a reminder, today’s call is on the record.  And with that, I will turn it over to Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield.AMBASSADOR THOMAS-GREENFIELD:  Thank you very much, Margaret, and thank you all for joining us here today.  As you know, I just returned from an incredibly productive, incredibly meaningful trip to Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea Bissau.  And I&#8217;d be remiss not to note that my stop in Guinea Bissau, a country I had never visited before, means that I’ve been to all but three countries on the continent of Africa.  So that’s not too shabby. Over the past week, I covered a lot of territory – literally and figuratively.  But there were a few core themes that wove through the entire trip.The first is democracy. Anchoring this trip was the inauguration of President Joseph Boakai in Liberia – marking the country’s successful second peaceful, democratic transition of power since the end of the civil war in 2003.  And I was really honored to lead the President’s delegation for this remarkable celebration of democracy as the former U.S. ambassador to Liberia.But it’s important to note that my visit to West Africa took place amidst a backdrop of democratic backsliding in the region.And so during my time in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea Bissau, I met with heads of government, I met with opposition leaders, members of civil society, and people representing the next generation of leaders to emphasize how civilian-led democracies deliver for people – and underscore the importance of preserving and expanding them. That was the message of my keynote address at the Liberia Chamber of Commerce on election night: that democracy is a tie that binds our two nations together.  And that both in America and in Liberia, democracy is an unfinished project – a choice we all must make not just on election day or inauguration day, but every single day.While in Liberia, I visited the historic Providence Baptist Church, where Liberia’s declaration of independence was signed in 1847 – and that continues to be a symbol of liberty and hope for Liberia.I met with leaders, including outgoing President George Weah, to commend him on his commitment to the peaceful transfer of power – and the new president, President Joseph Boakai, to discuss the importance of combatting corruption, promoting accountability, and remaining a pillar of democracy in a region roiled by threats to it.Democracy was also the topic of conversations in my meetings with Guinea Bissauan President Embalo, Sierra Leonean President Bio, and Ghanaian President Akufo-Addo, who was also in Liberia to celebrate the inauguration.And democracy was the basis for the announcement I made in Freetown a few days ago: that the United States is committing $1.5 million to support Sierra Leone’s electoral reform processes.This funding will help provide the technical and legal assistance needed to strengthen democracy in Sierra Leone – as well as fuel civilian engagement to increase everyday people’s awareness, buy-in, and ownership.Another key theme of my trip was peace and security – which are, of course, linked with democracy.This was a focus of all of my conversations with heads of state – including my sit-down with the president of Sierra Leone, whose country joined the Security Council during a particularly turbulent moment in the region – and my meeting with the Ghanaian president, whose country played a critical role in helping pass a UN financing resolution for AU peace operations.The international community has a responsibility to empower AU missions to respond to Africa’s growing security challenges.The financing resolution, which the UN unanimously adopted at the end of last year, is a major steppingstone to that end – putting African leaders at the forefront, and African people at the center.In addition to discussing peace and security with presidents, I visited the Sierra Leone Peace Museum, which honors the victims of the country&#8217;s decade-long conflict and works to promote lasting peace.  This visit was incredibly timely, and it was remarkably heart-wrenching to see the important efforts that were being made to ensure that people never forget what happened during that war.  But it was also timely as it immediately preceded my participation in a national dialogue discussion with the Government of Sierra Leone, opposition leaders, and members of the international community working to implement Sierra Leone’s agreement for national unity.I also visited Tombo Fishing Village, where I learned more about the community’s challenges with illegal fishing, as well as U.S. interventions to address climate, health, food – and food security.And finally, I had the opportunity to meet with Liberian soldiers who served as international peacekeepers as part of the UN’s mission in Mali. This is one of those full-circle moments for me.  I visited Liberia in 2005, near the height of the UN peacekeeping mission following the civil war.  To come back not even two decades later, and see Liberians contributing troops – it’s a testament to the resilience and the dedication of the Liberian people. Which brings me to the last theme of the trip, which was investing in the future of Africa – namely, women and young people.In Sierra Leone, I got to meet with an incredible group of young women leaders at Fourah Bay College, where we discussed the transformative role women play in government, business, and more.And while in Liberia, I had the opportunity to engage with alumni of the President’s Young Professionals Program and U.S. exchange programs – as well as students from my favorite school in the world. And I know that’s a lofty statement: favorite school in the world. But while I love my alma maters, LSU and the University of Wisconsin, these students attend The Linda Thomas-Greenfield Preparatory School.So: Democracy. Peace and security. Investing in women and young people.I could talk about these three priorities – and more importantly, the African people realizing them on the ground – forever.  But I want to get to your questions, and I know you want to get to them too.So let me end by just saying that this is a region that is near and dear to my heart.  I first went to Liberia and Sierra Leone in the late 1970s.  And since then, progress in the region has hardly been a straight line. But this visit, this homecoming, nearly five decades after I first touched down in Monrovia, affirmed that there are so many reasons to be hopeful about the years to come.So with that, I’d be happy to take a few questions.  So over to you, Margaret.  MODERATOR:  Thank you, Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield.  We’ll now begin the question-and-answer portion of today’s briefing.  We have a full briefing today.  And so as a courtesy to your fellow journalists, I’d ask that you limit yourself to one question related to the topic of today’s briefing, which is: the Power of Democracy and the Future of Peacekeeping in Africa After the AU Financing Security Council Resolution.So for our first question, Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield, would you please elaborate on what the AU financing resolution means for peace and security in Africa?AMBASSADOR THOMAS-GREENFIELD:  Oh, thank you so much for that question.  I am so proud of the fact that we were able to get the AU financing resolution passed.  This is something that I have personally been working on for over a decade when I served as the assistant secretary for Africa.  And so to accomplish that during my presidency – or my period at the Security Council was extremely meaningful.  And I want to take the opportunity to thank Ghana for leading the effort to move that resolution forward and get a unanimous adoption of the resolution in the Security Council.So you asked what the resolution means.  This resolution underscores the primary – the primacy of politics and the need for coherent political strategy that will guide any peacekeeping operations.  But it also gives support to the African Union, to African leadership of peacekeeping operations.  The resolution emphasizes that operations must include appropriate safeguards to protect civilians, and this was a key accomplishment of the resolution.  It provides for the UN to pay 75 percent of peacekeeping operations for AU missions, and that was something that was truly important, and we will work with the African Union and peacekeeping countries to get the rest of the funding.  But it really is a reflection of African leadership for African solutions.MODERATOR:  Fantastic.  Thank you for elaborating.Our first question from a journalist is Ms. – from Ms. Christina Okello of Radio France Internationale.  And the question is:  “Sierra Leone is joining the Security Council at a time of turmoil following a failed coup implicating the former president in a trial the opposition says is politically motivated.  What’s your assessment of the state of democracy in Sierra Leone?”AMBASSADOR THOMAS-GREENFIELD:  Democracy, as I said in my opening remarks, is not a – it’s not a straight-line process.  It is a process that is always a few steps forward and a few steps back, but we see that it is the one mode of government that provides for the people.  And Sierra Leone has made tremendous progress in moving in that direction.  I met with their commission, the national unity agreement and the commission that was set up for that, and the commission is working very deliberately to develop a process that will allow for free and fair elections that are supported by all parties.  We condemn the attempted coup that took place in Sierra Leone, and we want to work with the government to help establish a path forward, and we express our support to President Bio for his call for national unity, and his efforts to urge Sierra Leone to work together to build a unified country in the national interests of all.So we will continue to support that effort.  As I noted, we gave $1.5 million to that effort that will help the commission continue to implement their recommendations moving forward.MODERATOR:  Excellent.  And what does the recent UNSC Resolution 2719 mean for African peacekeeping missions?AMBASSADOR THOMAS-GREENFIELD:  Well, it means that these missions are going to get the support of the United Nations.  They’re going to get capacity that they may not have.  They are going to – their leadership is going to be boosted in this process.  We’ve seen a number of countries on the continent of Africa who have raised concerns about UN peacekeeping missions.  We saw that happen, unfortunately, in Mali.  We’ve seen it happen as well in Sudan.  So to have African leadership in these missions I think will help to build confidence in peacekeeping, and particularly as it relates to protection of civilians.MODERATOR:  Thank you.  Our next question is from Mr. Moses Kollie Garzeawu of BBC World Service, Liberia.  The question is:  “What example has Liberia set for the entire region with a smooth democratic transition?  And how committed is the U.S. to helping Liberia survive from what the president said is under stress?”AMBASSADOR THOMAS-GREENFIELD:  Liberia was and continues to be under stress.  We saw Liberia go through a 14-year civil war that ended in 2003.  They have had since that time successive transitions of power and successful elections.  The first president, President Sirleaf, served for two terms; President Weah – an opposition candidate was elected, and he graciously accepted the results of a free and fair election and allowed for a smooth transition.  And that is truly an example for not just West Africa, but the entire continent of Africa.  And we really should commend Liberians for that success.The United States is committed to Liberia.  We have – we’re a country that has close historical ties that go back to Liberia’s creation, and we have been a close ally and partner to Liberia throughout.  Liberia has been very supportive and worked closely with us here at the United Nations, and we’re committed to helping President Boakai succeed.As you know, I served as ambassador in Liberia for four years during the Sirleaf administration, and we committed millions of U.S. dollars to supporting Liberia’s development.  We will continue to do that.  Since 2017, we’ve given them close to $800 million; we’ve worked to build their military.  So our commitment to Liberia is ironclad.MODERATOR:  Thank you.  Our next question is from Mr. Mouctar Balde of Guinéenews.  He asks:  “You have very vast experience in African affairs, and you know very well the recent history of civil wars, unrest, coup – and coup in the region.  In Guinea, for instance, I have doubts that the current regime is going to transfer power to a democratic elected president.  As you know, civil wars, unrest, and crises start when the military is not playing by the rules.  What strategy can you think of in conflict prevention, or any kind of long-term unrest?”AMBASSADOR THOMAS-GREENFIELD:  Thank you for that question.  And it is a tough question, because it is something that we have all been grappling with for many, many years.  And we’ve had some – many successes, and Liberia is clearly one of those successes, and we’ve had failures, and Guinea is one of those right now.We are working to build capacity in countries like Guinea to give support to civil society, to give support to ordinary people so that they can vote and hopefully hold their leaders accountable.  But we’re also working with leadership to encourage them, to push them, to urge them, and sometimes nudge them in the right direction.  And that’s the case across the continent of Africa, and as I said, we have a lot of successes, but we have a lot of work to do to continue to push that effort.  We know that democracy delivers to people, and we know that in order for democracy to deliver, countries have to have strong leadership.  Corruption has to be addressed upfront.  That’s the message that I delivered in – very strongly in Liberia, and it’s the message that we’re delivering across the continent of Africa.  MODERATOR:  Thank you.  Our next question is for Mr. Aggrey Mutambo, the National Media Group in Kenya:  “I would like to see a comment from the U.S. Government concerning the war in Sudan.  We are hearing reports that Iran may have supplied certain drones and other weapons to the Sudan armed forces to aid their fight against Rapid Support Forces.  Does the U.S. have concerns about this and the potential for Iran becoming a bigger threat in the Horn of Africa, and what efforts are being put in place to de-escalate the situation? AMBASSADOR LINDA THOMAS-GREENFIELD:  Look, we’re concerned about any support for these two generals to continue this war against the people of Sudan, and we’ve made that clear across the board.  What the two generals need to do is put down their arms and go back to the negotiating table and find a solution.  There will be no military solution to this war.  We’re seeing thousands of people die on both sides.  We’ve seen 6 million people be forced from their homes.  I visited Chad last year, went to the border, talked to refugees who were fleeing.  Chad is hosting over a million refugees, many of them from the first war that happened that led to the designation of a genocide.  So to see this happening again is unconscionable.  And so it is incumbent that those who are assisting these two generals to fight this war against the people of Sudan cease those efforts, and the generals go and negotiate a final deal with civilians at the table with them.  MODERATOR:  Okay.  Our next question is – we’re going to take a turn up to North Africa, Ms. Aya Sayed of Roayah News Network in Egypt.  The question is:  “There are growing concerns that UN peacekeeping operations are increasingly becoming unwelcome in parts of Africa, as countries such as Mali and the DRC requested the withdrawal of UN missions.  Do you expect that African nations would welcome AU-led peacekeeping missions?”AMBASSADOR LINDA THOMAS-GREENFIELD:  Yeah, we’re very concerned with the – the lack of support for UN peacekeeping missions.  These missions have been important to contributing to peace and security, to protection of civilians across the continent of Africa.  So what happened in the case of Mali and what is currently happening in DRC is really unfortunate.  But I do think, as you noted, that AU peacekeeping missions might be able to fill in the gap.  And that’s why it was so important that we get the AU financing resolution passed so that we are able to provide direct financing to these missions, provide capacity, provide training so that Africans, as I said earlier, can lead in this process.  MODERATOR:  Okay, we’re coming – we are coming up on time, but I want to give Carol Van Dam Falk of Voice of America an opportunity to ask her question live.  Carol, over to you.  Carol, you’re on mute.  Can you speak again?AMBASSADOR LINDA THOMAS-GREENFIELD:  Hi, Carol.  MODERATOR:  Well, I am not able to hear Carol, so I’m going to go ahead and proceed to the next pre-submitted question.  And that is – let’s see – Mr. Mohamed K. Fofanah of the Gleaner Newspaper in Sierra Leone:  “Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield, you announced that the United States plans to invest 1.5 million to support Sierra Leone’s electoral reform process.  After the announcement, an unconfirmed report has it that the U.S. is pushing for a rerun of the June 24th elections.  Do you have any comment?” AMBASSADOR LINDA THOMAS-GREENFIELD:  I’m not aware of that, but what I am aware of is that the $1.5 million will assist Sierra Leone in developing their own plans for how they will conduct elections in the future.  But there are no – as far as I know, there are no plans for an election, and certainly we have not called for that. MODERATOR:  Thank you very much.  So we are at time.  Do you have any final thoughts that you would like to share with the group before we wrap?  AMBASSADOR LINDA THOMAS-GREENFIELD:  Well, let me just say to you that the press in Africa plays an extraordinarily important role in making sure that democracy functions.  You are a key component, you’re a key tool of democracy on the continent of Africa.  I had a number of press engagements when I was on this trip.  I met with your colleague from Front Page Africa and did an interview on radio with him.  I did a press conference in Sierra Leone as well.  And again, I think your role in keeping the public informed, keeping the world informed, and also holding accountable leaders across the continent and holding me and others accountable for what we’re doing is so important.  So I just want to end with a thank you to all of you for what you do, and I look forward to continuing to engage with you in the future.  MODERATOR:  Thank you, Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield.  That concludes today’s briefing.  I want to thank all of our participating journalists.  A reminder that this briefing has been on the record.  And if you have any questions about today’s briefing, you may contact the London International Media Hub at LondonHub@state.gov.  We will be circulating a transcript to all registered participants.  Thank you.AMBASSADOR LINDA THOMAS-GREENFIELD:  Thank you.# # #
- Visa Restriction Policy on Undermining the Democratic Process in Sierra Leone Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of StateThe United States is committed to supporting and advancing democracy in Sierra Leone and around the world.  Today, I am announcing a new visa restriction policy under Section 212(a)(3)C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act for undermining the democratic process in the June 2023 Sierra Leone election.Under this policy, the United States will pursue visa restrictions for those believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining democracy in Sierra Leone, including through the manipulation or rigging of the electoral process; intimidation of voters, election observers, or civil society organizations through threats or acts of physical violence; or the abuse or violation of related human rights in Sierra Leone.  Family members of such persons may also be subject to these restrictions.  Persons who undermine the democratic process in Sierra Leone—including in the lead-up to, during, and following Sierra Leone’s 2023 elections—may be found ineligible for U.S. visas under this policy.The visa restriction policy announced today will apply to specific individuals and is not directed at the Sierra Leonean people.  This decision reflects the commitment of the United States to support Sierra Leoneans’ aspirations to have free and fair elections that demonstrate the will of the people and strengthen democracy and the rule of law.
- Embassy Luanda Launches the Dinheiro Digital é Melhor Project to Increase Financial Inclusion Office of the SpokespersonThe U.S. Embassy in Angola launched the Dinheiro Digital é Melhor project with mobile operator Africell to improve and expand the use of mobile money applications, making it easier to send and receive money.  This two-year, nearly $5 million project, funded through the U.S. Government Agency for International Development (USAID), will support the Government of Angola’s objective to increase financial inclusion and the U.S. Government’s contribution to the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII).  U.S. Ambassador to Angola and São Tomé e Príncipe, Tulinabo S. Mushingi, and PGII Senior Advisor Danae Pauli attended the official launch at the Africell headquarters in Luanda.  Angolan Secretary of State for Technical and Professional Learning, Gildo Matias, Secretary of State for Science, Technology and Innovation, Alice de Almeida, and National Director of Business and Planning, Laercio Cândido, also attended the launch, as well as representatives from international agencies, civil society, the private sector, and local media.Building on President Biden’s commitment at the 2023 G7 Summit to support development of the Lobito Corridor and the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation’s existing financing for Africell in the DRC, Sierra Leone, and the Gambia, this project represents an expansion of the US government’s partnership with Angola to support sustainable economic development by empowering the Angolan people.   The Dinheiro Digital é Melhor Project in particular will empower ordinary Angolans to conveniently make and receive payments at their fingertips, bridging the gap between individuals and financial services, and breaking down barriers and reaching those previously excluded from the formal financial system.For information about the Dinheiro Digital é Melhor project, please contact the U.S. Embassy Press, Culture and Education Section at pressluanda@state.gov or call 222-641-134.
- Sierra Leone HomeReportsBureau of Economic and Business Affairs2023 Investment Climate Statements&#8230;Sierra Leone				hide	document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function(event) {	if(window.jQuery) {		jQuery( document ).ready(function() {			if (jQuery(".bc_middle").hasClass("collapse")) {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});				jQuery(".bc_hide").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});			} else {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").hide();			}		});	}});																							2023 Investment Climate Statements: Sierra Leone																																																																																												 In this section										/																							EXECUTIVE SUMMARY																																													EXECUTIVE SUMMARY																															1. Openness To, and Restrictions Upon, Foreign Investment																																																									Policies Supporting Foreign Direct Investment																																																																											Limits on Foreign Control and Right to Private Ownership and Establishment																																																																											Other Investment Policy Reviews																																																																											Business Facilitation																																																																											Outward Investment																																																																																	2. Bilateral Investment Agreements and Taxation Treaties																															3. Legal Regime																																																									Transparency of the Regulatory System																																																																											International Regulatory Considerations																																																																											Legal System and Judicial Independence																																																																											Laws and Regulations on Foreign Direct Investment																																																																											Competition and Anti-Trust Laws																																																																											Expropriation and Compensation																																																																											Dispute Settlement																																																																			ICSID and New York Convention																																																								Investor-State Dispute Settlement																																																								International Commercial Arbitration and Foreign Courts																																																																																																																		Bankruptcy Regulations 																																																																																	4. Industrial Policies																																																									Investment Incentives																																																																											Foreign Trade Zones/Free Ports/Trade Facilitation																																																																											Performance and Data Localization Requirements																																																																																	5. Protection of Property Rights																																																									Real Property																																																																											Intellectual Property Rights																																																																																	6. Financial Sector																																																									Capital Markets and Portfolio Investment																																																																											Money and Banking System																																																																											Foreign Exchange and Remittances																																																																			Foreign Exchange																																																								Remittance Policies																																																																																																																		Sovereign Wealth Funds																																																																																	7. State-Owned Enterprises																																																									Privatization Program																																																																																	8. Responsible Business Conduct																																																									Additional Resources																																																																											Climate Issues																																																																																	9. Corruption																															10. Political and Security Environment																															11. Labor Policies and Practices																															12. U.S. International Development Finance Corporation and Other Investment Insurance Programs																															13. Foreign Direct Investment and Foreign Portfolio Investment Statistics																															14. Contact for More Information																																																					EXECUTIVE SUMMARY				Sierra Leone, with an estimated population of 8.7 million people (2023 World Population Review), is located on the coast of West Africa between the Republic of Guinea in the north and northeast, the Republic of Liberia in the south and southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean on the west, with a land area of 71,740 square kilometers and a humid tropical climate.Sierra Leone emerged from a decade-long civil war in 2002 and has been politically stable with remarkable religious tolerance among its people. Since 2002, the country economically outperformed other west African countries before it was struck by an outbreak of the Ebola epidemic in 2014. When the country emerged out of the Ebola scourge in 2015, the government turned to foreign direct investment (FDI) to return the economy to the pre-Ebola growth trajectory.Sierra Leone was recovering from the ravages of the Ebola epidemic of 2014-15 when the COVID-19 pandemic struck in March 2020 and took a heavy toll on the economy. Economic activity dipped sharply in 2020 with elevated inflation and limited fiscal space. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), in August 2021, Sierra Leone grappled with severe and persistent effects of the COVID-19 pandemic amidst signs of early economic recovery.The economy was again recuperating from these disruptions when Russia further invaded Ukraine in February 2022. This war and its related sanctions have contributed to rising inflation, especially fuel and food prices, a deteriorating foreign exchange rate and reserves, disrupted supply chains, and worsening terms of trade, all severely impacting living standards, and creating uncertainty.Sierra Leone offers significant investment potential across numerous sectors. The country is rich in mineral reserves and natural resources with a favorable tropical climate, fertile soil advantageous for agriculture, extensive continental shelf with multiple varieties of fishery resources, a natural environment offering touristic prospects, and vast mineral resources, especially iron ore, diamonds, gold, rutile, ilmenite, and bauxite. Possibilities also exist in energy, water, telecommunications, and other infrastructure. FDI is crucial to the country’s economic recovery. Therefore, there has been a continuous drive and policy focus on encouraging FDI into the country.There are also opportunities for public-private partnership projects in energy, water, telecommunications, and other infrastructure. Opportunities further exist for investors to benefit from several preferential trade agreements. These include duty-free access to the Mano River Union market of more than 50 million, ECOWAS market of over 420 million, and the African Continental Free Trade Agreement of about fifty-four African countries with a combined population of more than one billion. The country also benefits from the European Union’s Everything but Arms initiative and the United States African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).President Julius Maada Bio of the Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) was re-elected for a second term in June 2023 in an election that was marred by logistical challenges and irregularities that call into question the integrity of the election results. The SLPP’s 2023 manifesto, “The New Direction: Consolidating Gains and Accelerating Transformation”, outlined the party’s aspirations for development with the “Big Five Game Changers”: food security and investment in agriculture; human capital development; youth employment; improved public service; and technology and infrastructure, especially in digitizing the financial sector and expanding the power sector. During Bio’s first term, his government’s took actions such as the enactment of the Arbitration Act 2022 and the establishment of the National Investment Bureau (NIB) with the aim to make it easier to invest and do business in Sierra Leone.There are, however, legislative, institutional, and regulatory challenges to investment, including governance, the rule of law, business and human rights, dispute resolution, finance, and banking. Poor quality and limited infrastructure also pose significant investment challenges as the country lacks the capacity necessary to support practical commercial activities. Challenges similarly persist in corruption, skilled labor, accessing land, high-interest rates, and contract enforcement.Table 1: Key Metrics and Rankings MeasureYearIndex/RankWebsite AddressTI Corruption Perceptions Index2022110 of 180http://www.transparency.org/research/cpi/overviewGlobal Innovation Index2022N/Ahttps://www.globalinnovationindex.org/analysis-indicatorU.S. FDI in partner country (stock positions)2022$1 millionhttps://apps.bea.gov/international/factsheet/World Bank GNI per capita2022$510http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GNP.PCAP.CD																																					1. Openness To, and Restrictions Upon, Foreign Investment						    																																																Policies Supporting Foreign Direct Investment										The Government of Sierra Leone has a positive attitude towards FDI. There is a general call on investors to invest in all economic sectors, especially in infrastructure and energy, as the government looks for private sector-led economic growth and development for the country. The Government of Sierra Leone&#8217;s medium-term National Development Plan (2019-2023) established a growth agenda to support economic diversification and competitiveness, and to develop a viable private sector to increase participation in global trade while addressing the legislative, institutional, and regulatory impediments to inward investment to create a more investor-friendly environment.The government’s diversification initiative is primarily directed toward agriculture, fisheries, tourism, and infrastructure. The government promotes sustainable investment in mechanized commercial agriculture, value addition, and agricultural research. The fishery sector is pushing for investment in lawful cultivation, commercial farming, and preservation of fish products. In the tourism sector, priority areas are investment in the hospitality industry, rehabilitation of historical and cultural sites, and promotion of tourism-based activities that link with the rural economy. The government focuses on public-private partnerships for major infrastructural energy, water, roads, ports, and telecommunications projects. It encourages investments in local industries like agro-processing, other value-addition industries, and small enterprise development.Sierra Leone allows foreign investors to compete on the same terms as domestic firms. The Investment Promotion Act of 2004 protects foreign entities from discriminatory treatment. The Act creates incentives and customs exemptions, provides for investors to freely repatriate proceeds and remittances, and protects against expropriation without adequate compensation. The Act further provides for arbitration under the UNCITRAL rules in the event of a commercial dispute. In August 2022, the government ratified the Arbitration Act of 2022 to replace existing legislation based on the English Arbitration Act of 1950. This new Act established the Sierra Leone Arbitration Center, regulates third-party funding, and formally acceded Sierra Leone to the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards (the New York convention).Additionally, the Government of Sierra Leone established the National Investment Board (NIB) in 2022 to serve as a one-stop shop to facilitate the setting up of businesses and provide support and information to start and operate a business. This institution aims to streamline and standardize processes which at present are marred by bureaucratic inefficiency, fraud, and corruption, and create a conducive and safer investment environment. The NIB’s mandate is to promote investment opportunities, assist investors in obtaining facilities relating to their business, and improve the investment climate in the country.However, poor quality and limited infrastructure pose significant challenges to investment and practical commercial activity. The shortage of skilled labor, the slow legal system, and the high level of corruption, which is pervasive at all levels of government, are significant obstacles to FDI.Further, the country’s economic challenges have intensified in the last year. Inflation has continued to rise on the back of increasing commodity prices, loose macroeconomic policies, and sharp currency depreciation. These challenges have been compounded by external shocks such as Russia’s further invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which continues to impact global supply chains. The soaring cost of living has also contributed to rising levels of food insecurity. Sierra Leone remains at high risk of debt distress, and risks have risen in the context of recent large fiscal deficits and the currency depreciation.																																				Limits on Foreign Control and Right to Private Ownership and Establishment										Foreign and domestic private entities have the right to establish and own business enterprises and engage in all forms of remunerative activities. Foreigners are free to establish, acquire, and dispose of interests in business enterprises. However, foreign investors cannot invest in arms and ammunition, cement block manufacturing, granite and sandstone excavation, manufacturing of certain consumer durable goods, or military, police, and correctional officers&#8217; apparel and accouterments. Furthermore, there are limits to land ownership by foreign entities and individuals; the limitations vary depending on the location of the land being used and are discussed below in the &#8220;Real Property&#8221; section.Sierra Leone has few specific restrictions, controls, fees, or taxes on foreign ownership of companies in Sierra Leone, other than certain registration formalities. In 2022, Parliament established the Mines and Mineral Development Act in an attempt to regulate mining activities and protect the environment and the interests of local communities. Small mining investments require a minority partnership with a Sierra Leonean company. Export licenses are required only for certain goods and materials. The export of gold and diamonds must comply with internationally accepted standards such as Kimberley Process certification. The permits required to export goods such as cocoa and coffee are issued automatically and at no cost. The Sierra Leone National Carrier Ratification Agreement Act of 2012 mandates the use of the Sierra Leone National Shipping Company for 40 percent of all goods imported or exported from Sierra Leone. The Petroleum Act 2001 restricts petroleum exploration and production licenses to companies registered or incorporated in Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone has also identified certain restrictions on foreign investment in its Schedule of Specific Commitments to the General Agreement on Trade in Services from August 1995, which established limited restrictions on the business services, financial services, and maritime and airport sectors.The Local Content Policy adopted in 2012 requires investors to utilize local goods and services in place of imported ones, promote the employment of citizens, and develop the human capacity of these citizens through training. According to the Local Content Agency Act of 2016, failure to follow the policy will result in the denial of investment incentives. More information is available below in the &#8220;Performance Requirements&#8221; section.The 2016 local content policy requires investors to utilize local goods in place of imported goods, promote the employment of citizens, and develop the human capacity of these citizens through training.The legal system generally treats foreign investors in a non-discriminatory fashion, though investors comment that judicial application of the laws is often subject to financial and political influence.																																				Other Investment Policy Reviews										The World Trade Organization (WTO) conducted a trade policy review for Sierra Leone in 2017: The UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) last conducted an investment policy review for Sierra Leone in 2010:    Investment Policy Review: Sierra Leone | UNCTAD. 																																				Business Facilitation										The government established the National Investment Board (NIB) in 2022 to coordinate, facilitate and promote business investment in Sierra Leone. The Board aims to simplify the bureaucracy and regulations for businesses, build trust and credibility in the registration process, and enhance a predictable and transparent investment climate that drives responsible investment. The government, with the support of development partners, provided for increased spending in critical infrastructure in its budget for 2023, in areas such as energy, transport, and ICT, which are essential to business facilitation and physical and digital connectivity.The Corporate Affairs Unit of the NIB manages the registration of limited liability companies and provides a &#8220;one-stop-shop,&#8221; including an online business registration system. The entire process involves five steps and takes, on average, ten days.  Additional information is available from the CAC&#8217;s website:   http://cac.gov.sl . The Sierra Leone Investment and Export Promotion Unit of the NIB also provides guidance on investing, exporting, starting a business, logistics and distribution, and sector-specific information:  https://www.sliepa.gov.sl/ .																																				Outward Investment										Sierra Leone has no program to promote or incentivize outward investment and places no restrictions on such activity.																																												2. Bilateral Investment Agreements and Taxation Treaties						    																						A list of Sierra Leone’s International Investment Agreements, including Bilateral Investment Treaties, Treaties with Investment Provisions, and Investment Related Instruments, can be found here:     https://investmentpolicy.unctad.org/international-investment-agreements/countries/189/sierra-leone . These treaties protect investors with fair and equitable treatment and defense against unlawful expropriation.Additionally, Sierra Leone has a preferential trade agreement with European Union’s Everything but Arms, with the United States African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA), with the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (55 African member states), the Economic Community of West African States (15 member states) and the Mano River Union (four member states). Sierra Leone is a member of the OECD Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting and is party to the Inclusive Framework’s October 2021 deal on the two-pillar solution to global tax challenges.Sierra Leone also benefits from its membership of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement with the United States, signed in 2014 with no bilateral taxation treaty. Double bilateral taxation treaties exist with Norway, South Africa, and the UK, extended to Canada, Denmark, Ghana, New Zealand, Nigeria, and The Gambia. The Ministry of Finance plans to review all existing treaties and work on the requested treaties from Kenya and Qatar.																																		3. Legal Regime						    																																																Transparency of the Regulatory System										The Sierra Leone Parliament is the country&#8217;s supreme legislative authority. Generally, Parliament enacts bills that the President signs into law. The judiciary interprets and applies the laws to ensure impartial justice and provides a mechanism for dispute resolution. However, the regulatory system is not entirely consistent with international norms. Laws and regulations are developed at the national level, and the Constitution requires publication of proposed laws and regulations in a government journal, the Gazette, for 21 days.A series of legislative reforms have been carried out since the second trade policy review in 2017 to create a conducive business environment and attract FDI. These include the Arbitration Act, Environmental Protection Agency Act, Anti-Money Laundering Act, the Banking Act, the Bank of Sierra Leone Act, the Extractive Industries Revenue Act, and several Finance Acts, to name a few. To strengthen the legal, regulatory, and institutional frameworks, Sierra Leone established the National Investment Board, the Credit Reference Bureau, the Corporate Affairs Commission, revised the legislation of company activities, and developed the Local Content Policy.Also, Sierra Leone has taken steps to promote and improve regulatory transparency. The Right to Access Information Commission was established in 2014 to make government records available to the public and imposes a penalty for failure to make information available. Sierra Leone joined the Open Government Partnership (OGP) in 2014, an initiative that empowers citizens to fight corruption and promotes transparent and accountable governance. The OGP, now led by the National Council for Civic Education and Development (NaCCED), made significant progress in access to justice, gender, education, and open Parliament, thereby assuring citizens of government&#8217;s commitment to provide for the public and to consolidate democracy. In 2020, Parliament passed the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion law and repealed Part 5 of the Public Order Act of 1965 that criminalized libel. In 2021, the government enacted the Cyber Security and Crime Act, signed the abolition of the death penalty, created a fast-track court to try sexual offenders, and in 2022 signed into law the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act.The Audit Service Act of 1998 established the Audit Service Sierra Leone (ASSL) and further strengthened to carry out audits of all government entities, including statutory corporations and organizations by the Audit Service Act of 2014.Sierra Leone became a member of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) in 2008, established the Sierra Leone Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (SLEITI), and became compliant with EITI rules in 2014. In 2019, the EITI Board agreed that Sierra Leone had made meaningful progress in implementing the EITI Standard but should undertake corrective actions before the second validation in December 2020. However, in 2020, recognizing the challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, the EITI Board introduced flexible measures in EITI implementation and tasked the multi-stakeholder group (MSG) to focus on ensuring EITII&#8217;s commitment to transparency and accountability. In 2022, SLEITI achieved an overall score of 87.5 percent in implementing the 2019 EITI standard comprising stakeholder engagement, transparency, and outcomes and impacts.The Public Financial Management Act of 2016 reformed the budget process and improved transparency in the expenditure of public funds. The Fiscal Management and Control Act of 2017 directed government ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to transfer all revenues into the Treasury Single Account, domestically referred to as the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF).																																				International Regulatory Considerations										Sierra Leone joined the General Agreement of Tariff and Trade (GATT) in 1961 and the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 1995. Sierra Leone is committed to the multilateral trading system and has not notified the WTO of any inconsistent measures with the WTO&#8217;s Trade-Related Investment Measures (TRIMs) obligations. It acceded to the Kyoto Protocol in 2006 and the International Convention on the Simplification and Harmonization of Customs Procedures, otherwise referred to as the Revised Kyoto Convention in 2015. It became a contracting party to the International Convention on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (HS Convention) in 2015. It replaced its pre-shipment inspection with a destination inspection in 2009 and notified the WTO of the Agreement on Trade facilitation in May 2017. The Customs Act of 2011 upheld the WTO Customs Valuation Agreement, which prohibits the use of arbitrary or fictitious values. However, it has not notified the WTO of its sanitary and phytosanitary legislation required for the international movement of any plant materials or products or any state-trading activity.Sierra Leone is not a signatory to any plurilateral agreements concluded under the WTO but established a mission to the WTO in 2011. It ratified six multilateral investment agreements, including the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) Conventions, so that foreign investments in Sierra Leone are covered against non-commercial risks such as currency transfer risks, expropriation risks, risks of war and civil disturbance, and repudiation risk.																																				Legal System and Judicial Independence										The legal system is derived from the English common law system, but local courts apply customary law to many disputes outside of the capital, Freetown. The courts provide a venue to enforce property and contract rights. The country does not have a consolidated written commercial or contractual law, and disparate pieces of legislation sometimes lead to the uneven treatment of commercial disputes.The Superior Court of Judicature consists of the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal, and the High Court, while the lower courts consist of the magistrate court and the local courts. In 2010, Sierra Leone created a Fast-Track Commercial Court to reduce the duration of commercial cases to as low as six months. In 2017, Sierra Leone hosted a commercial law summit to address gaps in the justice system, resulting in concrete recommendations in critical areas, including arbitration, anti-corruption and bribery, public-private partnerships, and reform of the court process. The Judiciary established a special court in 2019 to sit on cases of noncompliance with National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT) Act and to try corruption indictments.Foreign investors have equal access to the judicial system, which is slow and often subject to financial and political influence. However, Sierra Leonean courts may acknowledge foreign judgment from specific jurisdictions with reciprocal enforcement arrangements with Ghana, Nigeria, Guinea, and the Gambia. Generally, Sierra Leonean courts do not apply foreign law, but foreign judgment can be enforced when registered with the high court. However, the registration may be refused when enforcement is contrary to public policy.On depositing its instrument for accession to the United Nations Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards (New York Convention), Sierra Leone became the 166th state party to the Convention, which came into force in January 2021. The Arbitration Act of 1960 was repealed and replaced the Arbitration Act of 2022, which incorporated the New York Convention regarding awards made in Sierra Leone. Recommended during the inaugural Commercial Law Summit of May 2017, the accession will promote FDI by resolving disputes by arbitration without interference from local courts and will enforce arbitral awards consistently and predictably.																																				Laws and Regulations on Foreign Direct Investment										The Companies Act of 2009, the Registration of Business Act of 2007, and their subsequent amendments are the primary laws governing the registration of all businesses before commencing operations. The Corporate Affairs Department of the National Investment Board deals with the incorporation of companies. In contrast, the Office of the Administrator and Registrar General (OARG) deals with sole proprietorships and partnerships, with the process streamlined into a one-stop shop.Sierra Leonean law ensures that foreign investors may compete on the same terms as domestic firms. The Investment Promotion Act 2004 protects foreign entities from discriminatory treatment. The law creates incentives for customs exemptions, allows investors to repatriate proceeds and remittances freely, and protects against expropriation without prompt and adequate compensation. The law establishes a dispute settlement framework that will enable investors to submit disputes to arbitration under the UN Commission on International Trade Laws (UNCITRAL). Furthermore, the Arbitration Act of 2022 provides for enforcing and recognizing arbitral awards, an important tool to protect investors and promote foreign direct investment in Sierra Leone.Sierra Leonean authorities do not screen, review, or approve foreign direct investments. Companies must register to do business in Sierra Leone, and there are no reports that the registration process has blocked investments or discriminated against investors. In the case of investment guarantees, the government established specific procedures with the U.S. government in agreements signed on December 28, 1962, and November 13, 1963, whereby Sierra Leone authorities approved external investment guarantees in Sierra Leone. Additional information about the laws and regulations applicable to foreign investments is available on the SLIEPA website:     https://www.sliepa.gov.sl/. 																																				Competition and Anti-Trust Laws										Sierra Leone does not have a competition law. The European Union and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) have supported the Ministry of Trade and Industry&#8217;s attempt to develop a competition policy. This ministry oversees the regulation of anti-competitive practices. Whereas consumer protection has been passed, the cabinet has approved a competition policy but awaits parliamentary ratification.																																				Expropriation and Compensation										The Constitution authorizes the government to confiscate property only when necessary, in the interest of national defense, public safety, order, morality, town and country planning, or the public benefit or welfare. In such cases, the Constitution guarantees the prompt payment of adequate compensation, with a right of access to a court or other independent authority to consider legality, determine the amount of compensation, and ensure prompt payment.																																				Dispute Settlement																										ICSID and New York Convention						Sierra Leone became a party to the International Convention on the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) in 1966 to arbitrate investment disputes and enforce ICSID awards.Additionally, Sierra Leone became the 166th state party of the United Nations Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards (New York Convention) in January 2021. In September 2022, Parliament repealed and replaced the Arbitration Act of 1960, with the Arbitration Act of 2022 to incorporate the New York Convention.						Investor-State Dispute Settlement						Investment disputes in Sierra Leone can take a long time to resolve, given the slow pace of bureaucracy and substantial court backlogs. The Embassy is aware of several past investment disputes involving U.S. companies, but all cases that have been brought to the Embassy’s attention have been resolved.						International Commercial Arbitration and Foreign Courts						Sierra Leone acceded to the United Nations Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards (New York Convention) in 2020. In 2022, the Convention was domesticated when the Arbitration Act Chapter 25 of the Laws of Sierra Leone 1960 was repealed and replaced with the Arbitration Act No.18 of 2022, which included the New York Convention.The Investment Promotion Act 2004 allows investment disputes to be referred to arbitration following UNCITRAL procedures or the framework of any applicable bilateral or multilateral investment agreement. Judgments of foreign courts can be enforced under the Foreign Judgments (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act 1960, provided the country has a bilateral or reciprocal enforcement treaty with Sierra Leone. The Public-Private Partnership Act of 2014 also provides for international arbitration in Sierra Leone.																										Bankruptcy Regulations 										The Bankruptcy Act 2009 establishes a process of bankruptcy for individuals and companies. Bankruptcy is a civil matter, but it may disqualify an individual from holding certain elected public offices and practicing certain professions. The Bankruptcy Act 2009 also encourages and facilitates reorganization as an alternative to liquidation.After passing the Credit Reference Act in 2011, Sierra Leone established a Credit Reference Bureau within the Bank of Sierra Leone, mandating all financial institutions to give all information regarding loan applications for credit history checks. The credit history checks will detail all outstanding loans, when and where a loan was taken, and the repayment history guiding financial institutions in their loan decision. The Bureau now operates a digital identification system to control credit information and ensure citizens have secure and complete ownership of their data and information, transforming the financial inclusion landscape.																																												4. Industrial Policies						    																																																Investment Incentives										The Investment Promotion Act 2004 creates various incentives for foreign and domestic investors, and the multiple Finance Acts enacted since 2010. The Investment and Export Promotion Directorate of the National Investment Board (NIB) compiles information about the benefits and incentives available in various sectors. In particular, these are investment and employment, research and development, value-added manufacturing and training expenses incentives; incentives provided for businesses engaged in agriculture, airlines, fish farming, infrastructure, liquefied petroleum gas and cookers, mineral and petroleum, petroleum refinery, pharmaceuticals, photovoltaic systems, poultry, tourism; and income tax deductions for disabled persons, women and youth employment and skills development, and social services like schools and hospitals, etc. The Investment and Export promotion Directorate of the NIB provides details of these investment incentives on its website at:   https://www.sliepa.gov.sl/invest-in-sierra-leone/all-incentives  .The Public-Private Partnership Directorate of the NIB promotes private sector involvement in the country&#8217;s development plan, especially in public utility services. The PPP Directorate will continue to engage the private sector to secure energy, fisheries, health, housing projects, etc.																																				Foreign Trade Zones/Free Ports/Trade Facilitation										In conjunction with First Step, a subsidiary of a U.S.-based development organization, World Hope International, the government established a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in 2011 on 54 acres outside Freetown&#8217;s capital. The SEZ policy accords businesses operating in the zone with a three-year tax holiday, duty and tax exemptions on imported goods, expedited government services including customs, immigration, registration, and guaranteed electricity and water supplies. Additionally, in April 2023, Parliament ratified the establishment of the Koya Industrial Zone, a public-private partnership with Arise Integrated Industrial Platforms (Arise IIP), a developer and operator of industrial parks with projects throughout West Africa.																																				Performance and Data Localization Requirements										The Sierra Leone Local Content Agency Act 2016 promotes foreign investors&#8217; utilization of the domestic private sector. The Act applies to mining, industrial, petroleum, manufacturing, agriculture, transportation, maritime, aviation, tourism, public works, fisheries, health, and energy sectors.The local content policy is meant to boost the economy by leveraging the power of local industries and citizens through their participation in the economy. It targets several issues, including:Employment of nationals: All foreign businesses must employ Sierra Leoneans, at least 20 percent of the managerial and 50 percent of intermediate positions. After five years, this ratio must increase to 60 percent for managerial and 80 percent for intermediate positions.Preferential Treatment: Preference will be granted to a foreign business that partners with Sierra Leonean businesses over foreign companies with no equity share owned by Sierra Leonean entities.First Consideration: Foreign businesses must give Sierra Leoneans first consideration for employment and training.Use of local goods and services: Firms should give preference to Sierra Leonean goods when they are of equal or comparable value. Companies must use specific amounts of local materials in critical sectors, but if there is inadequate local capacity to meet the law’s target, the Ministry of Trade and Industry may issue a waiver.National preference in contracts: The policy first considers Sierra Leonean companies for mining and petroleum awards and licenses and public works contracts. The policy also offers domestic firms a preferential margin in government and private procurements.The Local Content Agency enforces the local content policy.  Companies must submit local content plans to demonstrate compliance, and violations are subject to fines, the loss of investment incentives, and civil forfeiture.																																												5. Protection of Property Rights						    																																																Real Property										There are two systems of land tenure in Sierra Leone.  The Western Area, the former British colony of Sierra Leone, which includes Freetown, operates under a freehold system. In the provincial areas outside the Western Area, the land is governed under a leasehold system where local communities retain ultimate control. Foreigners cannot own land under either system but can lease land to a maximum size of 15,000 hectares for agriculture and 10,000 hectares for mining for up to 50 years. In leasehold areas, the chiefdom, town, or village area land committees have oversight responsibility over land in the provinces, and investors wishing to invest on any land subject to customary law shall comply with the processes and procedures set out in the Customary Land Rights Act of 2022.The Constitution protects property rights, but the rule of law is fragile and uneven across the country. Property rights and contracts are only adequately secure with an adequate legal framework. Mortgages and liens are possible but rare and generally involve high-interest rates and short loan periods. There is no land titling system, and traditional justice systems still supplement the national government&#8217;s judiciary, especially in rural areas.The Land Administration system currently inhibits successful problem resolution. The survey system is manual, and land survey technologies are outdated and inaccurate. Property management procedures are lengthy, unreliable, expensive, and do not guarantee the protection of the property user and or owner&#8217;s rights. While the new Acts, the Customary Land Rights Act and the Land Commission Act of 2022, seek to formalize land transactions while respecting customary systems, the 2019–23 Medium-term National Development Plan recognizes land ownership rights and rights obligations are necessary to attract foreign investment.																																				Intellectual Property Rights										Sierra Leone has not been listed in the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Special 301 Report or the Notorious Markets List.Sierra Leone has been a member of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) since 1986 and a member of the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO), the common intellectual property body for English-speaking African countries, since 1980. As a member of the WTO, Sierra Leone is bound by the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). Sierra Leone has not ratified the WIPO Copyright Treaty or the Berne Convention to protect Literary and Artistic Rights.Despite its recognition of international standards, Sierra Leone&#8217;s intellectual property protection is limited. Laws pre-dating the colonial era allowed patents and trademarks registered in the United Kingdom to be extended to Sierra Leone. Efforts to update the country&#8217;s legal framework have thus far included the Copyright Act 2011, the Patents and Industrial Design Act 2012, and the Trademark Act 2014. Nonetheless, legal protections remain outdated and incomplete, and government enforcement is minimal due to resource and capacity limitations.For companies who may wish to seek advice from local attorneys who are experts in Sierra Leonean law, go to  https://sl.usembassy.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/195/Lawyers-List-Updated-December-2020.pdf for a list of local lawyers.For additional information about treaty obligations and points of contact at local IP offices, please see WIPO&#8217;s country profiles at  http://www.wipo.int/directory/en/ .																																												6. Financial Sector						    																																																Capital Markets and Portfolio Investment										Limited capital market and portfolio investment opportunities exist in Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone&#8217;s stock market is over a decade old but remains relatively inactive. The number of listings, as well as participation in the stock market, remains low and insignificant. Inadequate support from the government, low levels of engagement among the general populace, limited participation by foreign investors, and high levels of corruption hinder the stock market&#8217;s growth.																																				Money and Banking System										Sierra Leone&#8217;s banking sector, supervised by the central bank of Sierra Leone, consists of 14 commercial banks, 79 foreign exchange bureaus, 17 community banks including Apex Bank, 39 credit-only microfinance, five deposit-taking microfinance, two discount houses, a home mortgage finance company, a leasing company, two mobile financial services providers, and a stock exchange. Bank branches exist throughout the country, with activity concentrated in Freetown. The commercial banking sector is characterized by poor performance with significant financial vulnerability.Foreign individuals and companies are permitted to establish bank accounts. The use of mobile money is becoming more popular. Other electronic payments and ATM usage are available in urban areas but limited in rural settings, while the Bank of Sierra Leone is set to roll out a &#8220;national payment switch&#8221; to facilitate connectivity among different banks&#8217; electronic systems. Telecommunications companies are upgrading to enhance mobile money services and e-commerce specifically.In July 2022, the Bank of Sierra Leone redenominated the Leone to simplify accounting records and reduce cash volumes needed for transactions. The redenomination eliminated three zeros from the old Leone and created a new 20 Leone denomination equivalent to 20,000 old Leone. The redenomination commenced in July 2022, was extended to March 2023, and then was extended again to the end of December 2023.Sierra Leone has a high inflation rate and a deteriorating currency exchange rate. In June 2023, the inflation rate increased to 44.81 percent, compared to 27.95 percent in June 2022. The exchange rate in June 2023 was $1:Le20.9, compared to $1:Le13.1 in June 2022, a 37% depreciation of the value of the Leone. As part of structural reforms in the banking sector under the Extended Credit Facility of the International Monetary Fund, the Bank of Sierra Leone pledged to establish a particular resolution framework for troubled financial institutions, establish a deposit insurance system, strengthen its capacity to supervise and oversee the non-bank financial institution sector and facilitate the adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) both internally and across the financial industry.Inadequate supervisory oversight of financial institutions, weak regulations, and corruption have made Sierra Leone vulnerable to money laundering. While the country&#8217;s anti-money laundering Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) controls remain underdeveloped and underfunded, the U.S. Treasury provided technical capacity-building assistance for the operational staff of the unit between 2017 and 2022. The GIABA (a French acronym for Groupe Intergouvernemental d&#8217;Action Contre la Blanchiment d&#8217;Argent en Afrique de l&#8217;Ouest, which in English is &#8216;The Inter-Government Action against Money Laundering in West Africa&#8217;) and the EU also funded workshops on designated non-financial business and professions on Anti-Money Laundering and Combating Financing Terrorism (AML/CFT) preventive measures.																																				Foreign Exchange and Remittances										Sierra Leone has a floating exchange rate regime. The Leone has depreciated slowly over the years mainly due to the increasing demand to finance current consumption and a decreasing inflow of foreign currency resulting from decreased exports and remittances.																Foreign Exchange						In August 2019, the government mandated the exclusive use of the Leone for all contracts and payments, prohibited individuals and other entities from holding more than U.S.$10,000 or its equivalent in any foreign currency, and travelers must declare foreign currencies of more than U.S.$10,000 or its equivalent. Violation of these directives is punishable by law as stipulated in the 2019 Bank of Sierra Leone Act. In late 2020 however, an acute shortage of domestic currency hit the market, compelling the central bank to order sufficient domestic currency to meet the market demand and lifted the restriction on foreign currency holdings to mitigate the effects of the scarcity.The Investment Promotion Act 2004 guarantees foreign investors and expatriate employees the right to repatriate earnings and the proceeds of the sale of assets. There are no restrictions on converting or transferring funds associated with investments, including remittances, earnings, loan repayments, or lease payments, for as long as these transactions are done through the banking system.With the approval of the Bank of Sierra Leone, investors can withdraw any amount from commercial banks and transfer the funds into any freely convertible currency at market rates, and the exchange rate is market-determined. Sierra Leone is a party to the ECOWAS Common Currency, the ECO, and efforts to introduce this common currency are being given serious consideration, though it has repeatedly been delayed.						Remittance Policies						The law provides that investors may freely repatriate proceeds and remittances. The Embassy is not aware of any recent complaints from investors regarding the remittance of investment returns or any planned policy changes on this issue.																										Sovereign Wealth Funds										Though legislated under the 2018 Extractive Industries Revenue Act and the 2016 Public Financial Management Act, Sierra Leone has not established a sovereign wealth fund.																																												7. State-Owned Enterprises						    																						Sierra Leone has more than 20 state-owned enterprises (SOEs) mainly active in the utilities, transport, and financial sectors. There is no official or comprehensive government-maintained list of SOEs. However, notable examples include the Guma Valley Water Company, the Sierra Leone Telecommunication Company, the Electricity Distribution, and Supply Authority, the Electricity Generation and Transmission Company, the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation, the Rokel Commercial Bank, the Sierra Leone Commercial Bank, and the Sierra Leone Produce Marketing Company, to name but a few. Some of these SOEs are governed by an independent board of directors, while the relevant government ministries supervise others.Sierra Leone is not a party to the Government Procurement Agreement within the WTO Framework. SOEs may engage in commerce with the private sector, but they do not compete on the same terms as private enterprises, and they often have access to government subsidies and other benefits. SOEs in Sierra Leone do not play a significant role in funding or sponsoring research and development, and do not compete internationally.																										Privatization Program										The National Commission for Privatization was established in 2002 to facilitate the privatization of various SOEs. With support from the World Bank, the Commission has focused on privatizing the country&#8217;s seaport operations and other unsuccessful public enterprises, including a BOT public-private partnership agreement with the airport. The Commission continues to seek investments in public-private partnerships for SOEs with significant infrastructure, including telecommunications, energy, housing, etc. Privatization processes are open to foreign investors and could be integrated into plans for better capitalizing the stock exchange in Freetown via new equity listings.																																												8. Responsible Business Conduct						    																						The government encourages companies to engage in responsible business conduct, and the National Investment Board seeks investors who will undertake corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects. Sierra Leone does not have a set of standards or policies for CSR, but the law provides various incentives. For example, the Finance Act 2011 created a tax deduction for expenditures on social services outside the investment&#8217;s scope, such as the construction of schools and hospitals for community use. Community leaders generally expect businesses outside of Freetown and the Western Area, where local Paramount Chiefs control the land, to engage in projects to support the communities&#8217; social and economic well-being, human capital development, and physical infrastructure. Throughout the country, there is limited awareness of corporate activities&#8217; impacts on human rights and environmental protection.In 2008, Sierra Leone enacted the Environment Protection Act (amended in 2010), which provides rules for various environmental matters, such as environmental impact assessment and the control of ozone-depleting substances, especially by mining companies. The act established the Environment Protection Agency (EPA), which is the authority on environmental issues and social matters related to issuing and administering environmental licenses for mining activities.There are two systems of land ownership in Sierra Leone – the freehold and the leasehold. The freehold system operates in the Western Area, and the leasehold in the provinces. Foreign investors cannot own land outright in Sierra Leone but can take leases for terms of not more than 50 years. The maximum size of land leased for agriculture shall be 15,000 hectares, 10,000 hectares for mining, and 5,000 hectares for other types of investments.Sierra Leone became a member of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) in 2008, established the Sierra Leone Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (SLEITI), and became compliant with EITI rules in 2014. In 2019, the EITI Board agreed that Sierra Leone had made meaningful progress in implementing the EITI Standard but should undertake corrective action before the second validation in December 2020. However, in 2020, recognizing the challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, the EITI Board introduced flexible measures in EITI implementation and tasked the multi-stakeholder group (MSG) to focus on ensuring EITI&#8217;s commitment to transparency and accountability. In 2022, the Board commended Sierra Leone for achieving a high overall score of 87.5 percent in implementing the 2019 EITI Standards. The Board further encouraged Sierra Leone to institutionalize good practices for following up on EITI recommendations and acting upon lessons learned.																										Additional Resources										Department of StateCountry Reports on Human Rights Practices &#8211;   https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/sierra-leone.Trafficking in Persons Report &#8211;   https://www.state.gov/trafficking-in-persons-report/.Guidance on Implementing the &#8220;UN Guiding Principles&#8221; for Transactions Linked to Foreign Government End-Users for Products or Services with Surveillance Capabilities ( https://www.state.gov/key-topics-bureau-of-democracy-human-rights-and-labor/due-diligence-guidance/).U.S. National Contact Point for the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises ( https://www.state.gov/u-s-national-contact-point-for-the-oecd-guidelines-for-multinational-enterprises/).Xinjiang Supply Chain Business Advisory ( https://www.state.gov/xinjiang-supply-chain-business-advisory/).Department of the TreasuryOFAC Recent Actions ( https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/financial-sanctions/recent-actions ).Department of LaborFindings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor Report ( https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/resources/reports/child-labor/findings  )List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor ( https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/reports/child-labor/list-of-goods )Sweat &amp; Toil: Child Labor, Forced Labor, and Human Trafficking Around the World ( https://www.dol.gov/general/apps/ilab )Comply Chain ( https://www.dol.gov/ilab/complychain/ )																																				Climate Issues										The Government of Sierra Leone has taken several steps to advance its climate response strategy. The administration established a new Minister of Environment in 2019, and in 2021, with the support of the United Nations Development Programme and other development partners, released its initial National Adaptation Plan for climate change. The plan lays out priority sectors and issues, develops programs across these priorities to be implemented, and provides recommendations for future action. The plan identified that current policy does not encourage private sector engagement on climate adaptation, as there are few regulatory incentives or deterrents to achieve policy outcomes to preserve biodiversity, clean air, or other ecological and climate objectives. The national Medium-term Development Plan (2019 – 2023) also highlights the need for private sector involvement in the planning for climate resilience and adaptation, as there has yet to be concrete engagement or contribution by the private sector to address climate issues.Also in 2021, the country updated its Nationally Determined Contribution, which guides Sierra Leone’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and is the cornerstone of Sierra Leone’s climate change response to the United Nations framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Sierra Leone is also a party to the Paris Agreement for climate resilience and adaptation.To date, there has been limited legislation implemented to achieve climate goals. The Environmental Protection Agency Act of 2008 established Sierra Leone’s Environmental Protection Agency, which is charged with advising the President on the formulation of environmental policy, and an amendment passed in 2022 requires Environmental Impact Assessments for certain activities including mining, agriculture, and construction projects. Further, it prohibits toxic and hazardous substances from being stored or disposed of in Sierra Leone, and empowers the Environmental Protection Agency to fine violators – though there is little to no enforcement. The government has also increased the coverage of terrestrial sites of biodiversity importance to protect biodiversity and endangered species, and has imposed increased taxes on the export of timber to mitigate deforestation through the Finance Act 2021.																																												9. Corruption						    																						Corruption poses a significant challenge in Sierra Leone and is particularly endemic in government procurement, the award of licenses and concessions, regulatory enforcement, customs clearance, and dispute resolution. Sierra Leone signed the UN Convention against Corruption in 2003 and ratified it in 2004. The country is not a party to the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), established in 2000, has the authority to investigate and prosecute acts of corruption by individuals and companies. The Anti-Corruption Act of 2008 makes it criminal to offer, solicit, or receive a bribe. This law applies to all appointed and elected officials, close family members, and companies, whether foreign or domestic. The Commission launched a &#8220;Pay No Bribe&#8221; campaign in 2016, encouraging citizens to report corruption in the public sector.In 2022, Sierra Leone ranked 110 out of 180 countries, improving five places from 115/180 (2021) in the Transparency International Corruption Index. In tackling corruption, the country has moved up 19 steps from 129/180 in 2018 to 110/180 in 2022. The government completed the Commission of Inquiry probing corruption allegations into the past government of former President Koroma in March 2020. A white paper was released to implement the recommendations of the reports, but Ministry of Justice has done little to pursue these recommendations.In 2019, the Government of Sierra Leone passed an Anti-Corruption Amendment Act, which increased the powers of the ACC in the fight against graft. It protects witnesses and whistleblowers and provides sanctions for failing to submit asset declarations on time or falsified, inaccurate, or misleading information. It empowers the commissioner to prevent contracts that are not of national interest and increases penalties for offenses under the Act. Since then, the ACC has steadily pursued arrests, repayments, and convictions in private and public sectors. Between April 2018 and June 2023, the ACC reports to have recovered over three million dollars in misappropriated funds and prosecuted cases of corruption leading to convictions of present and former public officials and private citizens. The Chief Justice established a Special Court to adjudicate corruption cases while the ACC signed several information-sharing agreements with key government institutions, including the Audit Service Sierra Leone and the Financial Intelligence Unit. The ACC also conducted a substantial systems and processes reviews of public offices and public education and outreach activities across the country. In early 2022, the ACC introduced a reward and incentive scheme for informants, whistleblowers, and citizens who support the ACC in the fight against corruption, and is currently focused on aspects of alleged corruption in the 2021 audit report for Sierra Leone. However, some observers have accused the ACC of targeting opposition politicians while failing to investigate credible allegations of corruption against the ruling SLPP party, including those close to the president.Resources to Report Corruption:Contact at the government agency or agencies that are responsible for combating corruption:Francis Ben Kelfala, CommissionerAnti-Corruption CommissionCathedral House3 Gloucester Street, Freetown+232 78 832131 &amp; +232 78 321 321info@anticorruption.gov.sl http://anticorruption.gov.sl/  https://www.anticorruption.gov.sl/Contact at a &#8220;watchdog&#8221; organization:Lavina Banduah (lbanduah@tisierraleone.org)Executive DirectorTransparency International Sierra Leone20 Dundas Street, Freetown+232 79 060985 &amp; +232 76 618348tisl@tisierraleone.org http://www.tisierraleone.org/  																																		10. Political and Security Environment						    																						Sierra Leone is a constitutional republic with a directly elected president and a unicameral legislature. In June 2023, the incumbent Sierra Leone People&#8217;s Party (SLPP) presidential candidate, Julius Maada Bio, won a second term in the fifth cycle of presidential elections since the civil war ended in 2002. Elections were marred by logistical challenges and irregularities that called into question the integrity of the election results.The Sierra Leone Police, supervised by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, is responsible for law enforcement and maintaining security within the country, but it is poorly equipped and lacks sufficient investigative and forensic capabilities. The Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) is responsible for external security and has some domestic security responsibilities to assist police upon request in extraordinary circumstances. The RSLAF reports to the Ministry of Defense and the Office of National Security. Civilian authorities maintained effective control over the security forces.Sierra Leone, in 2020, made a historical “Freedom of Speech” move by repealing Part 5 of the Public Order Act of 1965 that criminalized libel. President Bio has also signed into law the abolition of the death penalty.There is tension between social, political, and cultural institutions over power and resources. Policies and positions are sometimes sought for control over public finances. The government launched three Commissions of Inquiry (COI) to probe into the governance activities of the immediate past administration, which created further tensions. The COI was concluded in March 2020, and a government White Paper issued in September 2020 assuring citizens of the full implementation of the recommendations, which included recovery of all monies and confiscation of all assets as detailed in the COI reports.On August 10, 2022, during demonstrations that turned violent, the Sierra Leone Police shot and killed 30 protesters, mostly unarmed youth, in the capital city of Freetown and in the towns of Makeni, and Kamakwie. Protesters killed 6 police officers. Subsequently, several reports suggested police targeted opposition All People&#8217;s Congress (APC) supporters for arrest and interrogation, irrespective of their connection to specific events on August 10.Sierra Leone’s relations with the neighboring countries of Guinea and Liberia are peaceful. However, Guinea laid claim over the border village of Yenga, in the Kailahun District of Sierra Leone, despite the several meetings between the Presidents of the two countries. Sierra Leone has notified the ECOWAS of Guinea&#8217;s assertion. There have been isolated incidents of politically motivated violence during and after the 2018 national and local elections.																																		11. Labor Policies and Practices						    																						Sierra Leone&#8217;s labor force is informal, unregulated and needs more specialized skills. Approximately 90 percent of laborers work in the informal sector, predominantly in subsistence or other small-scale agriculture. Sierra Leone&#8217;s labor force was devastated by the country&#8217;s civil war of 1991-2002, and the formal employment sector has yet to recover to pre-war levels. The war led to significant migration out of the country and destroyed the nation&#8217;s education system. In a country where educational institutions once earned the moniker &#8220;the Athens of Africa,&#8221; adult literacy was estimated at 48 percent in 2021 (data.worldbank.org). Businesses identify significant shortfalls in skilled professionals due to limited vocational training. While the government has developed Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programs, foreign investors find recruiting and training enough workers challenging. Youth unemployment is persistently high and will continue to grow due to high birth rates and changing demography.In 2016, Sierra Leone enacted &#8220;The Local Content Policy,&#8221; stipulating quotas for investment in and employment of Sierra Leonean citizens in corporations operating in the country. The Sierra Leone Local Content Agency ( www.localcontent.gov.sl ) monitors compliance with the policy.The Minister of Finance reviewed the national minimum wage from NLe600 (~ $60) since January 2020 to NLe800 (~ $38) per month effective April 2023 and applies to all workers, including those in the informal sector (note that the exchange rate depreciated by 110 percent from $1:NLe10 in January 2020 to $1:NLe21 in April 2023). The law requires paid leave and overtime wages, but enforcement is ineffective, and there is no prohibition on excessive compulsory overtime. Employers can dismiss workers with limited notice and severance. Foreign employees must obtain work permits from the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, and most countries&#8217; nationals must have visas. Additional information is available from the Embassy of Sierra Leone in the United States and at  http://travel.state.gov. Government policies regarding the hiring of Sierra Leonean nationals are described above in the &#8220;Performance and Data Localization Requirements&#8221; section.The law allows workers to join independent unions without prior authorization, conduct legal strikes, and bargain collectively. The Ministry of Labor and Social Security estimates that approximately 35-40 percent of workers in the formal economy are unionized, including agricultural workers, mineworkers, and health workers. The law allows unions to conduct their activities without interference, and the government generally respects this right. However, employers have reportedly intimidated workers in some private industries to prevent them from joining a union, and there is no legal protection against employers&#8217; discriminating against union members. Unions have the right to strike, although the government requires 21-day prior notice. Collective bargaining is widespread in the formal sector, and most enterprises are covered by collective bargaining agreements on wages and working conditions.The Employers and Employees Act of 1960, the Regulation of Wages and Industrial Relations Act of 1971, and regulations adopted by the Ministry of Labor and the Ministry of Health and Sanitation govern labor issues. Legal requirements are outdated and poorly enforced, while child labor remains widespread. The law limits child labor, allowing light work at age 13, full-time nonhazardous work at age 15, and all work at age 18. Child labor is more prevalent in agriculture, artisanal gold and diamond mining, granite quarrying, sand mining and construction, domestic service, street hawking, begging, charcoal burning, and fishing. The laws against child labor are not effectively enforced. The Ministry of Labor and Social Security attributes the ineffective enforcement to a lack of funding and the inherent difficulties of monitoring child labor in the informal sector. Also, the International Labor Organization has identified discrepancies between provisions in the Child Rights Act 2007 and provisions of the Employers and Employees Act 1960.																																		12. U.S. International Development Finance Corporation and Other Investment Insurance Programs						    																						The DFC operates in Sierra Leone under a bilateral agreement of 1961 and has partnered with the private sector to fund crucial challenges. It provided a loan guarantee in 2011 to an investment fund with agricultural projects committed funds to upgrade and expand mobile networks. It provided funds for Cordaid to increase access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises and microfinance institutions. In 2021, it approved funding the development of an 83.5-megawatt gas-fired power plant in the capital Freetown, under a 20-year power purchase agreement, and in July 2023, DFC announced a $150 million loan to Summa Airports (SL) Limited to finance the expansion, renovation, and operation of the Freetown International Airport in Sierra Leone.																																		13. Foreign Direct Investment and Foreign Portfolio Investment Statistics						    																						&nbsp;Table 2: Key Macroeconomic Data, U.S. FDI in Host Country/Economy  Host Country Statistical source USG or international statistical source USG or International Source of Data:  BEA; IMF; Eurostat; UNCTAD, Other Economic Data Year AmountYear Amount Host Country Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (USD) 2021$4.25billion 2021$4.25 billionhttps://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.CD?locations=SL  Foreign Direct Investment Host Country Statistical source USG or international statistical source USG or international Source of data:  BEA; IMF; Eurostat; UNCTAD, Other U.S. FDI in partner country ($M USD, stock positions)N/AN/A2022$1https://apps.bea.gov/international/factsheet/factsheet.html#434Host country’s FDI in the United States ($M USD, stock positions)N/AN/AN/AN/Ahttps://apps.bea.gov/international/factsheet/factsheet.html#434Total inbound stock of FDI as % host GDPN/AN/A202268.2%https://unctad.org/topic/investment/world-investment-report  *Host Country Source:  https://www.statistics.sl/index.php/gdp.html Table 3: Sources and Destination of FDIIMF Coordinated Portfolio Investment Survey data are not available for Sierra Leone. 																																		14. Contact for More Information						    																						Economic and Commercial SectionU.S. Mission Sierra LeoneSouthridge, Hill StationFreetown, Sierra Leone+232 99 105 500freetown-econ@state.gov																										    							View report by:																				Albania											Algeria											Andorra											Angola											Antigua and Barbuda											Argentina											Armenia											Australia											Austria											Azerbaijan											The Bahamas											Bahrain											Bangladesh											Barbados											Belarus											Belgium											Belize											Benin											Bolivia											Bosnia and Herzegovina											Botswana											Brazil											Brunei											Bulgaria											Burkina Faso											Burma											Burundi											Cabo Verde											Cambodia											Cameroon											Canada											Chile											China											Colombia											Costa Rica											Côte d’Ivoire											Croatia											Cyprus											Czechia											Democratic Republic of the Congo											Denmark											Djibouti											Dominica											Dominican Republic											Ecuador											Egypt											El Salvador											Equatorial Guinea											Eritrea											Estonia											Eswatini											Ethiopia											Fiji											Finland											France and Monaco											Gabon											The Gambia											Georgia											Germany											Ghana											Greece											Grenada											Guatemala											Guinea											Guyana											Honduras											Haiti											Hong Kong											Hungary											Iceland											India											Indonesia											Iraq											Ireland											Israel											Italy											Jamaica											Japan											Jordan											Kazakhstan											Kenya											Kosovo											Kyrgyz Republic											Laos											Latvia											Lebanon											Lesotho											Liberia											Libya											Lithuania											Luxembourg											Macau											Madagascar											Malawi											Malaysia											Maldives											Mali											Malta											Marshall Islands											Mauritania											Mauritius											Mexico											Micronesia											Moldova											Mongolia											Montenegro											Morocco											Mozambique											Namibia											Nepal											Netherlands											New Zealand											Nicaragua											Niger											Nigeria											North Macedonia											Norway											Oman											Pakistan											Palau											Panama											Papua New Guinea											Paraguay											Peru											Philippines											Poland											Portugal											Qatar											Republic of the Congo											Romania											Rwanda											Saint Kitts and Nevis											Saint Lucia											Saint Vincent and the Grenadines											Samoa											Sao Tome and Principe											Saudi Arabia											Senegal											Serbia											Seychelles											Sierra Leone											Singapore											Slovakia											Slovenia											Somalia											South Africa											South Korea											South Sudan											Spain											Sri Lanka											Suriname											Sweden											Switzerland											Taiwan											Tajikistan											Tanzania											Thailand											Timor-Leste											Togo											Trinidad and Tobago											Tunisia											Türkiye											United Arab Emirates											Uganda											Ukraine											United Kingdom											Uruguay											Uzbekistan											Vietnam											West Bank and Gaza											Zambia											Zimbabwe															Build A Custom Report																						On This Page				search													>																										EXECUTIVE SUMMARY																1. Openness To, and Restrictions Upon, Foreign Investment																																							Policies Supporting Foreign Direct Investment																																																						Limits on Foreign Control and Right to Private Ownership and Establishment																																																						Other Investment Policy Reviews																																																						Business Facilitation																																																						Outward Investment																																																			2. Bilateral Investment Agreements and Taxation Treaties																3. Legal Regime																																							Transparency of the Regulatory System																																																						International Regulatory Considerations																																																						Legal System and Judicial Independence																																																						Laws and Regulations on Foreign Direct Investment																																																						Competition and Anti-Trust Laws																																																						Expropriation and Compensation																																																						Dispute Settlement																																																				ICSID and New York Convention																																												Investor-State Dispute Settlement																																												International Commercial Arbitration and Foreign Courts																																																																																				Bankruptcy Regulations 																																																			4. Industrial Policies																																							Investment Incentives																																																						Foreign Trade Zones/Free Ports/Trade Facilitation																																																						Performance and Data Localization Requirements																																																			5. Protection of Property Rights																																							Real Property																																																						Intellectual Property Rights																																																			6. Financial Sector																																							Capital Markets and Portfolio Investment																																																						Money and Banking System																																																						Foreign Exchange and Remittances																																																				Foreign Exchange																																												Remittance Policies																																																																																				Sovereign Wealth Funds																																																			7. State-Owned Enterprises																																							Privatization Program																																																			8. Responsible Business Conduct																																							Additional Resources																																																						Climate Issues																																																			9. Corruption																10. Political and Security Environment																11. Labor Policies and Practices																12. U.S. International Development Finance Corporation and Other Investment Insurance Programs																13. Foreign Direct Investment and Foreign Portfolio Investment Statistics																14. Contact for More Information																						Tags																					Bureau of African Affairs																								Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs																								Sierra Leone
- On Sierra Leone’s Election Matthew Miller, Department SpokespersonThe United States continues to be concerned about irregularities in the election results announced by the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL). Independent parallel vote tabulations and analyses by accredited national and international observation missions raise questions about the integrity of the official results. We call on the government to institute an independent, outside investigation of the elections process and integrate observer recommendations to improve the electoral modalities for future elections.We are also disturbed by the reports of intimidation – including death threats – against domestic and international observers, civil society organizations, and ECSL personnel.  We call on all actors to exercise restraint and engage in peaceful dialogue to resolve disputes.The resolve and determination of Sierra Leoneans who went out to the polls on June 24 to make their voices heard was inspiring.  Free and fair elections are essential for any democracy.  The government and political parties must commit to strengthening democratic institutions to better protect the rights and reflect the aspirations of the people of Sierra Leone.
- Sierra Leone HomeReportsBureau of Economic and Business Affairs2023 Fiscal Transparency Report&#8230;Sierra Leone				hide	document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function(event) {	if(window.jQuery) {		jQuery( document ).ready(function() {			if (jQuery(".bc_middle").hasClass("collapse")) {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});				jQuery(".bc_hide").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});			} else {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").hide();			}		});	}});																							2023 Fiscal Transparency Report: Sierra Leone																																					Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs																																																																																																				 In this section																																												Government-by-Government Assessments: Sierra Leone																																												Government-by-Government Assessments: Sierra Leone				During the review period, the government made significant progress by making basic information on natural resource extraction awards publicly available.  Budget documents and information on debt obligations, including major state-owned enterprise debt information, were widely and easily accessible to the public, including online.  The budget was substantially complete and generally reliable.  The supreme audit institution met international standards of independence.  It reviewed the government’s accounts and made its reports publicly available.  The government specified in law or regulation but did not appear to follow in practice the criteria and procedures for awarding natural resource extraction licenses and contracts.Sierra Leone’s fiscal transparency would be enhanced by:Following procedures for awarding natural resource extraction contracts in practice.																												    							View report by:																				Afghanistan											Algeria											Angola											Azerbaijan											Bahrain											Bangladesh											Benin											Burma											Burundi											Cambodia											Cameroon											Central African Republic											Chad											China, People’s Republic of											Comoros											Congo, Democratic Republic of											Congo, Republic of the											Djibouti											Egypt											Equatorial Guinea											Eswatini											Ethiopia											Gabon											The Gambia											Guinea											Guinea-Bissau											Iraq											Laos											Lebanon											Lesotho											Liberia											Libya											Madagascar											Malawi											Mali											Maldives											Mauritania											Mongolia											Mozambique											Niger											Oman											Pakistan											Palestinian Authority											Papua New Guinea											Rwanda											Sao Tome and Principe											Saudi Arabia											Senegal											Sierra Leone											Somalia											South Africa											South Sudan											Sudan											Tajikistan											Tanzania											Turkmenistan											Ukraine											Uzbekistan											Vietnam											Yemen											Zambia											Zimbabwe																										On This Page				search													>																										Government-by-Government Assessments: Sierra Leone																	Tags																					Bureau of African Affairs																								Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs																								Division for International Finance and Development																								Sierra Leone
- Sierra Leone HomeReportsOffice to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons2023 Trafficking in Persons Report&#8230;Sierra Leone				hide	document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function(event) {	if(window.jQuery) {		jQuery( document ).ready(function() {			if (jQuery(".bc_middle").hasClass("collapse")) {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});				jQuery(".bc_hide").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});			} else {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").hide();			}		});	}});																							2023 Trafficking in Persons Report: Sierra Leone																																					Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons																																																																																																				 In this section										/																							SIERRA LEONE (Tier 2)																																													SIERRA LEONE (Tier 2)																															PRIORITIZED RECOMMENDATIONS:																																																																																		PROSECUTION																																																																																		PROTECTION																																																																																		PREVENTION																																																																																		TRAFFICKING PROFILE:																																																																																																								SIERRA LEONE (Tier 2)				The Government of Sierra Leone does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so.  The government demonstrated overall increasing efforts compared with the previous reporting period, considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, if any, on its anti-trafficking capacity; therefore Sierra Leone remained on Tier 2.  These efforts included prosecuting suspected traffickers and passing and enacting the Anti-Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Act of 2022, which increased penalties prescribed for trafficking crimes and removed the option for a fine in lieu of imprisonment for convicted traffickers.  The government also supported repatriation of Sierra Leonean victims abroad.  However, the government did not meet the minimum standards in several key areas.  The government convicted fewer traffickers and identified fewer victims.  Victim services remained woefully inadequate, and the government did not provide financial support to civil society organizations to provide services.																																					PRIORITIZED RECOMMENDATIONS:						    																																															Expand victim protection services for all trafficking victims, including shelter for male victims.Increase efforts to investigate and prosecute and seek adequate penalties for convicted traffickers, which should include significant prison terms.Train police, prosecutors, and judges to investigate and prosecute trafficking cases under the Anti-Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Act of 2022.Train all officials on the SOPs on victim identification and NRM to ensure trafficking victims receive timely services.Proactively screen for trafficking indicators among vulnerable populations, including Sierra Leonean women traveling abroad for domestic work, women in commercial sex, irregular migrants, children in informal foster care arrangements, and Cuban overseas workers.Increase implementation of the Labor Migration Policy, including by providing predeparture education about human trafficking and labor rights, improving recruitment agency licensing procedures, and increasing the capacity of Sierra Leonean missions abroad to support victims.Coordinate with regional governments to prosecute transnational cases, coordinate victim protection, and prevent trafficking.Improve data collection on anti-trafficking law enforcement and victim assistance efforts.Screen any North Korean workers for signs of trafficking and refer them to appropriate services in a manner consistent with obligations under UNSCR 2397.																																												PROSECUTION						    																																															The government increased law enforcement efforts.  During the reporting period, the government adopted the Anti-Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Act of 2022, which criminalized sex trafficking and labor trafficking and prescribed penalties of a minimum 25 years’ imprisonment.  These penalties were sufficiently stringent and, with respect to sex trafficking, commensurate with other grave crimes, such as rape.  The new law, which replaced the 2005 anti-trafficking law, increased penalties prescribed for trafficking crimes and removed the option for a fine in lieu of imprisonment for convicted traffickers.The government reported investigating 26 cases, compared with investigating 43 cases in the previous reporting period.  The government reported prosecuting 13 defendants in 13 cases, compared with prosecuting an unknown number of defendants in nine cases in the previous reporting period.  The government did not report any convictions, compared with three convictions in the previous reporting period, and acquitted one defendant.  Judicial inefficiencies, general corruption, and procedural delays hindered courts from holding traffickers accountable and diminished confidence in the judicial system.  As a result, victims’ families often accepted payments from traffickers rather than pursue cases in court, and families sometimes exerted pressure on victims to not participate in investigations and prosecutions because of security concerns, community ties to alleged traffickers, and the high cost and travel required to participate in such cases.  Often victims either did not agree to testify, and prosecutors dropped the charges, or victims could not meet the travel requirements for court appearances, and judges dismissed the cases.Under the new anti-trafficking law, all trafficking prosecutions should commence in the High Court, bypassing the sometimes lengthy preliminary investigation stage overseen by the Magistrate Court.  However, observers reported that confusion among officials about the new law hindered implementation.  In addition, there was a dedicated judge and specialized prosecutors for trafficking cases.  The government did not report any investigations, prosecutions, or convictions of government employees complicit in human trafficking crimes; however, corruption and official complicity in trafficking crimes, particularly in the judiciary, remained significant concerns, inhibiting law enforcement and judicial action. The government, in collaboration with an international organization and NGOs, trained district task force members, social workers, and local chiefs on victim identification, referral, and case management.  Police officers did not receive training on human trafficking while at the police academy. Observers reported a lack of resources and training in evidence gathering and witness interviewing, particularly of children, hindered prosecution efforts.  The Family Support Unit and the Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU) of the police had jurisdiction over trafficking cases.  Observers noted a lack of formal guidelines for trafficking investigations led to duplications of efforts.  The government continued to cooperate with the Governments of Guinea and Liberia and initiated discussions to establish MOUs on bilateral cooperation to address cross-border trafficking.  The government cooperated with the Governments of Oman and Liberia on the repatriation of Sierra Leonean victims.																																												PROTECTION						    																																															The government maintained minimal efforts to identify and protect victims.  The government identified 34 trafficking victims, including one sex trafficking victim and 33 forced labor victims; this compared with 43 victims in the previous reporting period.  Of the 34 victims identified, two were adults (one man and one woman) and 32 were children (15 boys and 17 girls).  NGOs identified an additional 62 victims, including 21 sex trafficking victims and 41 forced labor victims.  Officials reported referring all 34 victims to care, compared to referring an unknown number to care the previous reporting period; women and child victims were referred to NGOs for shelter services, while authorities temporarily accommodated male victims at law enforcement or other facilities.  The government had SOPs to identify trafficking victims, including victims among vulnerable populations, and an NRM to refer them to services; however, inconsistent application and lack of training on the procedures prevented some victims from receiving services.  Ministry of Social Welfare officials did not uniformly implement the SOPs for referring victims to NGOs for specialized care.The government relied on NGOs to care for trafficking victims without providing resources or in-kind support.  One NGO-operated shelter for female and child trafficking victims provided medical, psycho-social, educational, legal, vocational, family tracing, and reintegration support to at least 34 sex and labor trafficking victims, including adults and children;  Another NGO operated a shelter for vulnerable children, including trafficking victims.  No NGO shelters could accommodate adult male victims.  The government sometimes provided adult male victims with funds to rent housing during investigations; however, some male victims stayed at police stations during investigations, and the government did not refer them for additional services.  TOCU officials paid for food for these victims out of their personal funds, as they did not have a budget for providing victim services.  In some cases, law enforcement temporarily sheltered child victims in their own homes during investigations.  The government assisted in the repatriation of five potential Sierra Leonean victims from Guinea and 16 Sierra Leonean victims from Liberia.  An international organization identified and assisted at least 60 Sierra Leonean trafficking victims exploited in the Middle East.The government offered victim-witness assistance to victims participating in criminal justice proceedings; this included immigration relief, legal services, transportation, and lodging support.  In addition, prosecutors could request closed court sessions to protect victims’ identities and prevent re-traumatization during trials.  The government did not report how many victims, if any, voluntarily participated in investigations and prosecutions during the reporting period.  An international organization reported limited victim assistance, lack of legal representation, and fear of retaliation resulted in many victims declining to report their cases to law enforcement.  The law allowed victims to obtain restitution, but, while victims could file civil suits against their traffickers, none did so during the reporting period.  The law provided legal alternatives to the removal of trafficking victims to countries in which victims would face retribution or hardship; the government did not report providing these services to any victims during the reporting period.  Due to inconsistent application of SOPs on victim identification, authorities may have detained or arrested some unidentified trafficking victims.																																												PREVENTION						    																																															The government maintained efforts to prevent trafficking.  The anti-trafficking task force, chaired by the Ministries of Social Welfare and Justice, was responsible for coordinating the government’s anti-trafficking efforts.  The government provided 600 million leones ($31,915) for anti-trafficking activities, compared with 700 million leones ($37,234) the previous year.  The central task force provided training and support to regional task forces.  In partnership with NGOs and international organizations, the government trained members of the regional task forces and local and regional officials on trafficking issues, including holding consultation sessions on the NRM.  The government continued implementing the NAP against Trafficking in Persons especially Women and Children (2021-2023). The government also conducted awareness campaigns on radio and television.  The government maintained a nationwide trafficking hotline run by the police.The government had strict licensing procedures for new recruitment agencies to prevent exploitation of migrant workers, including a formal business registration and police clearance.  However, the government’s strict recruitment policy led some Sierra Leoneans to migrate through informal channels, subsequently increasing their vulnerability to trafficking.  The government did not report whether it implemented existing MOUs on safe labor recruitment with the Governments of Kuwait and Lebanon.  The Ministry of Labor and Social Security continued its Labor Migration Policy to improve protections for migrant workers in Sierra Leone and Sierra Leoneans working abroad by ensuring greater cooperation among government stakeholders.  Labor inspectors conducted most inspections in the formal sector in the Freetown area in factories, quarries, and mining operations.  Labor inspectors did not have sufficient resources to effectively monitor and investigate labor violations; there were no dedicated child labor inspectors, which limited efforts to identify potential cases of forced child labor.  The government did not report providing labor inspectors training on child labor or human trafficking.  The government did not make efforts to reduce the demand for commercial sex.  The government provided anti-trafficking training to its diplomatic personnel but did not provide training to its troops prior to their deployments as peacekeepers.																																												TRAFFICKING PROFILE:						    																																															As reported over the past five years, human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in Sierra Leone, and traffickers exploit victims from Sierra Leone abroad.  Traffickers recruit and transport victims largely from rural provinces to urban and mining centers for exploitation in sex trafficking and forced labor in domestic servitude, artisanal diamond and granite mining, petty trading, portering, making ceramics, rock breaking, quarrying, and begging.  Traffickers exploit victims in fishing and agriculture and sex trafficking or forced labor through customary practices, such as forced marriages.  The government reported child sex trafficking – especially of children from low-income families – was a significant problem, including at beaches and in nightclubs.  Local demand fuels the majority of child sex trafficking, although foreign tourists exploit children in child sex tourism.  In some cases, parents exploit their children in commercial sex for financial gain and even sell their children to traffickers; traffickers use this as an opportunity to exploit children in sex trafficking and forced labor.  Traffickers exploit women and girls in sex trafficking on commercial fishing boats.  In 2018, an NGO reported PRC national-owned companies helped to fuel child sex trafficking in Freetown, citing workers on PRC national-owned fishing vessels exploit girls in sex trafficking.  Traffickers exploit traditional foster care practices called menpikin to convince parents to hand over their children by promising to provide an education but instead exploit children in various forms of forced labor, including domestic servitude, street vending, mining, agriculture, scavenging for scrap metal, okada (motorbike taxi) driving, and sex trafficking.  Under the guise of menpikin, some children are sent to Liberia, Guinea, or Mali to beg, others are sent to the Cote d’Ivoire to work on plantations.  Some corrupt Quranic teachers force children to beg or work in mines or farms.  Economic vulnerability because of the pandemic increased children’s susceptibility to human trafficking.Traffickers exploit victims from neighboring West African countries in forced begging, forced labor, and sex trafficking in Sierra Leone, and traffickers exploit Sierra Leoneans in neighboring countries, including Mali, Niger, Liberia, and Guinea for forced labor and sex trafficking.  In previous years, traffickers exploited PRC national, Indian, Lebanese, Kenyan, Pakistani, and Sri Lankan men in forced labor in Sierra Leone.  Cuban nationals working in Sierra Leone may have been forced to work by the Cuban government.  Sierra Leonean migrants travel to other West African countries, including Mauritania and Guinea, as well as to the Middle East and Europe, where traffickers exploit some into forced labor and sex trafficking.  Traffickers exploit Sierra Leonean women in domestic servitude in Middle Eastern countries, including Oman, Iraq, Kuwait, and Lebanon.  In previous reporting periods, an international organization reported some Libyan soldiers sold stranded Sierra Leonean migrants in their custody to Libyan and Middle Eastern traffickers.  North Korean nationals working in Sierra Leone may be operating under exploitative working conditions and display multiple indicators of forced labor.																																				    							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