HomeCountries & Areas…Sierra Leone

# Sierra Leone

		Subscribe		                  -  View Fact SheetEmbassies & Consulates
Bureau of African Affairs
International Travel Information
What you need to know before you go: visas, embassy & consulate locations, vaccinations, etc.
International Travel Information: Learn More Current Travel Advisories
Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Learn More								U.S. Relationship																									These are excerpts from the U.S. Relations With Sierra Leone																			-  												U.S.-Sierra Leone Relations											 
-  												U.S. Assistance to Sierra Leone											 
-  												Bilateral Economic Relations											 
													U.S.-Sierra Leone Relations													The U.S. established diplomatic relations with Sierra Leone in 1961, following its independence from the United Kingdom. The U.S. and Sierra Leone enjoy a warm and cordial relationship. The two countries are linked by the history of slavery in the U.S., an institution that would send a large number of African slaves from present-day Sierra Leone to the then-colonies ofThe U.S. established diplomatic relations with Sierra Leone in 1961, following its independence from the United Kingdom. The U.S. and Sierra Leone enjoy a warm and cordial relationship. The two countries are linked by the history of slavery in the U.S., an institution that would send a large number of African slaves from present-day Sierra Leone to the then-colonies of Georgia and South Carolina.  In early 2014, the United Nations hailed Sierra Leone as a success story due to its remarkable post-conflict transition following a brutal civil war (1991-2002), which destroyed the country’s infrastructure and hampered it’s political, social, and economic development. Sierra Leone’s positive trajectory was interrupted in May 2014 when the deadly Ebola epidemic struck and quickly overtook the country’s fragile health care system. The outbreak was declared contained in November 2015. Since, the government launched an ambitious recovery plan that has received significant donor support.Collapse U.S.-Sierra Leone Relations															Read more about U.S.-Sierra Leone Relations																												U.S. Assistance to Sierra Leone													Sierra Leone relies on significant amounts of foreign assistance from both bilateral and multilateral donors. The U.S. is among the largest bilateral donors, with emergency assistance spiking due to the Ebola crisis. Mission partners comprised of the State Department, Department of Defense, USAID, CDC, Peace Corps, and the Millennium Challenge Corporation totaled an estimated $600 million in the fight againstSierra Leone relies on significant amounts of foreign assistance from both bilateral and multilateral donors. The U.S. is among the largest bilateral donors, with emergency assistance spiking due to the Ebola crisis. Mission partners comprised of the State Department, Department of Defense, USAID, CDC, Peace Corps, and the Millennium Challenge Corporation totaled an estimated $600 million in the fight against the outbreak. Post-Ebola programming is aimed at strengthening the health care system, bolstering infection prevention procedures, and enhancing supply chain accountability. The CDC is working closely with the government to set up a public health institute to enhance the government’s ability to better predict and combat Ebola and other diseases like malaria. There are also plans to staff a permanent CDC office in the country.Collapse U.S. Assistance to Sierra Leone															Read more about U.S. Assistance to Sierra Leone																												Bilateral Economic Relations													U.S. exports to Sierra Leone include transportation equipment, agricultural products, machinery, and chemicals, while its imports from Sierra Leone include minerals, metals, machinery, and agricultural products. Sierra Leone is eligible for preferential trade benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act. The two countries do not have a bilateral investment treaty. On September 17, 2012, senior officials for both countriesU.S. exports to Sierra Leone include transportation equipment, agricultural products, machinery, and chemicals, while its imports from Sierra Leone include minerals, metals, machinery, and agricultural products. Sierra Leone is eligible for preferential trade benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act. The two countries do not have a bilateral investment treaty. On September 17, 2012, senior officials for both countries signed an Open Skies air services agreement.Collapse Bilateral Economic Relations															Read more about Bilateral Economic Relations															Integrated Country Strategies
The Integrated Country Strategy is the four-year strategy articulating U.S. priorities in a given country. The Chief of Mission leads the strategy.
View Integrated Country StrategiesInvestment Climate Statements
The Investment Climate Statements analyze a variety of economies that are or could be markets for U.S. businesses and provide information on the business climates.
View Investment Climate StatementsFiscal Transparency Report
The Fiscal Transparency Report analyzes government transparency and identifies needed changes to improve public spending accountability.
View Fiscal Transparency ReportDiscover More2022 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices2022 Report on International Religious Freedom2023 Trafficking in Persons Report
View all Department Reports and Publications
COVID-19 Vaccine Deliveries
Since September, 2021 the United States has donated **2,607,870** safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine doses with the people of Sierra Leone. This includes 2,120,670 Pfizer and 487,200 J&J doses. Of the 2,607,870 vaccine doses, 100% were donated in partnership with COVAX.

The United States is committed to leading an international and coordinated effort to accelerate access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines to meet global needs. The United States is working with other governments and partners including COVAX, Caricom, and the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT) to protect communities from COVID-19 and apply lessons from this pandemic to enhance health security now and in the future.

Learn more about our work Delivering Vaccines and on COVID-19 Recovery.
More Vaccine Deliveries HighlightsMarch 1, 2024
Freetown, Sierra Leone: The American International School of Freetown: 2024 Special Needs Profile
February 26, 2024
Keynote Address on the Legacy of the Special Court for Sierra Leone
January 31, 2024
Digital Press Briefing on Power of Democracy and the Future of Peacekeeping in Africa After the AU Financing Security Council Resolution
January 16, 2024
U.S. Relations With Sierra Leone
November 3, 2023
Freetown, Sierra Leone: The American International School of Freetown: 2023-2024 Fact Sheet
							VIEW ALL NEWS						
Tags
Bureau of African AffairsSierra LeoneBack to Top- White House
- USA.gov
- Office of the Inspector General
- Archives
- Contact Us
follow usFacebookTwitterInstagramYouTubeFlickrGovDelivery- Privacy Policy
- Accessibility Statement
- Copyright Information
- FOIA
- No FEAR Act
U.S. Department *of* StateThe Lessons of 1989: Freedom and Our Future