Sierra Leone’s Minister of Finance, Karefa Kargbo, has expressed optimism that the country could receive US$40 million in budget support from the World Bank in December 2026, while acknowledging serious weaknesses in public procurement, contractor performance and project supervision that continue to undermine the implementation of development programmes financed by international partners.

The Minister’s remarks come during the 2026 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group, taking place from Monday, 12 October, to Sunday, 18 October 2026, at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC) in Bangkok, Thailand.

The international gathering brings together Finance Ministers, Central Bank Governors, development institutions, policymakers and private sector representatives to discuss global economic stability, development financing, poverty reduction, investment and sustainable economic growth.

For Sierra Leone, the discussions carry particular importance as the Government seeks to secure additional budgetary resources, strengthen confidence among development partners and accelerate reforms necessary to improve public financial management and the delivery of essential services.

Finance Minister, Karefa Kargbo, acknowledged that delays in obtaining procurement approvals, including the issuance of required no-objection clearances, have contributed to the slow implementation of several donor-supported projects. He identified poor contractor performance, inadequate monitoring and weak supervision as additional challenges affecting the timely completion of development initiatives.

According to the Minister, some projects financed by development partners have experienced significant setbacks, while others have reportedly been abandoned because of procurement-related difficulties and weaknesses in implementation.

He warned that those challenges have implications beyond individual projects, particularly when international financing institutions begin questioning the capacity of implementing agencies to manage resources efficiently and deliver the intended results.

Karefa Kargbo stressed the importance of strengthening procurement procedures, improving contractor accountability and ensuring that Ministries, Departments and Agencies exercise effective supervision over projects entrusted to them.

He maintained that public investments and development assistance must produce measurable improvements in the lives of Sierra Leoneans rather than remain tied up in prolonged administrative procedures, unfinished infrastructure and poorly managed contracts.

The Finance Minister’s concerns highlight the need for stronger coordination between the Ministry of Finance, implementing institutions, procurement authorities, contractors and development partners to ensure that approved projects are executed within agreed timelines and budgets.

Despite those concerns, Karefa Ansumana Francis Kargbo remains hopeful that the World Bank will provide Sierra Leone with US$40 million in budget support before the end of December 2026, subject to the successful implementation of agreed policy reforms and the institution's assessment of the country's compliance with the required conditions.

According to information attributed to senior Ministry of Finance officials in Freetown, the Government is expected to complete outstanding reform measures by 31 October 2026, ahead of a World Bank review reportedly scheduled for November.

The proposed financing has not yet been confirmed as approved or scheduled for disbursement. Its release would depend on the completion of the required policy actions, the World Bank's assessment and any necessary institutional approvals.

Parliament is expected to resume sittings on Friday, 16 October 2026, following a summons reportedly issued by President Dr. Julius Maada Bio through the Speaker of Parliament. The resumption is considered important because some of the outstanding policy measures are expected to require parliamentary consideration and approval.

The Ministry of Finance is consequently facing a narrow period within which to coordinate the necessary submissions, secure legislative action and provide evidence of compliance with the reform benchmarks.

Successful completion of those requirements could strengthen Sierra Leone's prospects of obtaining the anticipated financial support, while demonstrating the Government's commitment to improving economic governance and meeting obligations agreed with international development partners.

The Bangkok engagements also come against the background of an established development partnership between Sierra Leone and the World Bank Group.

On 10 September 2026, World Bank Vice President for Western and Central Africa, Ousmane Diagana, met Minister of Finance Karefa Ansumana Francis Kargbo in Freetown during a high-level visit aimed at strengthening cooperation and improving the effectiveness of development programmes.

The World Bank delegation included senior country-level representation, and the discussions focused on accelerating project implementation, strengthening accountability and ensuring that development financing produces measurable results for citizens.

During that earlier engagement, Ousmane Diagana reaffirmed the institution's commitment to Sierra Leone's development priorities, while the Finance Minister outlined the importance of fiscal discipline, domestic revenue mobilisation and improved cash-flow management.

The discussions also highlighted the need to move beyond the approval and disbursement of development financing towards demonstrable improvements in service delivery, institutional performance and economic opportunities.

The World Bank Group's official announcement of 1 September 2026 also confirmed the appointment of Aissatou Diallo as its Country Manager for Sierra Leone, with responsibility for leading the institution's strategic engagement and overseeing a development portfolio valued at nearly US$1.2 billion.

The portfolio covers agriculture, energy, water, education, social protection, governance, digital development and private sector growth, reflecting the breadth of the Bank's involvement in Sierra Leone's economic and social development.

On 18 June 2026, the World Bank approved a separate US$40 million International Development Association grant for the Sustainable Agricultural Value-chains Intensification for Growth project, designed to increase agricultural productivity, attract private investment, improve market connections and create employment opportunities.

That agricultural grant is distinct from the US$40 million budget support currently being anticipated by the Ministry of Finance.

The broader development discussions in Bangkok are also taking place at a time when international financial institutions are expressing concern about rising debt, increasing borrowing costs and the financial pressures facing developing economies.

World Bank Group President Ajay Banga and IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva have been among the leading international financial figures participating in the annual meetings, where attention has focused on economic resilience, sustainable financing, employment creation and the need for countries to improve the effectiveness of public expenditure.

For Sierra Leone, the potential benefits of the proposed budget support would extend beyond the immediate availability of US$40 million. If approved and disbursed, the financing could provide additional fiscal space for the Government to meet eligible budgetary commitments, support priority public services and reduce short-term pressure on domestic financing.

The resources could also contribute to improved budget execution, allowing the Government greater flexibility to support programmes in education, healthcare, agriculture and other priority sectors, subject to approved expenditure allocations and applicable financial management requirements.

Improved procurement systems and stronger project supervision could deliver further benefits by reducing implementation delays, limiting avoidable cost overruns, strengthening accountability and ensuring that public investments translate into completed infrastructure and functioning services.

The Finance Minister's emphasis on contractor performance is particularly significant because the timely completion of donor-funded projects remains essential to maintaining development partner confidence and demonstrating that international assistance is being used effectively.

The coming weeks will therefore be crucial for the Ministry of Finance, Parliament and the institutions responsible for implementing the required policy measures.

With the 31 October deadline approaching and a further World Bank assessment reportedly expected in November, the Government's ability to complete the necessary reforms could determine whether Sierra Leone receives the anticipated US$40 million before the end of 2026.

The outcome will also provide an important indication of the country's capacity to address longstanding procurement and project management challenges while sustaining the confidence of its international development partners.

For ordinary Sierra Leoneans, the ultimate measure of success will not simply be whether the financing is released, but whether the resources and accompanying reforms contribute to better public services, improved infrastructure, stronger economic management and meaningful development outcomes. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/archives/65473

 

Female genital mutilation is often discussed as a cultural practice. But what happens when culture intersects with political ambition, money, traditional authority and the struggle for votes? In Sierra Leone, the question is no longer simply why Bondo continues to exist. It is whether the political establishment is prepared to protect girls even when doing so may threaten powerful interests.

The million-dollar question

There is a question that Sierra Leone must confront honestly, courageously and without political interference:

Why, at a time when the world is mobilizing to end female genital mutilation, are reports of mass Bondo initiations raising questions about the involvement, encouragement or sponsorship of political actors?

If politicians are sponsoring mass initiation drives into Bondo where FGM is performed, what motivates them? Is it a genuine commitment to cultural preservation, a search for political loyalty, an investment in traditional power structures, or a calculation that the support of influential traditional leaders will translate into electoral advantage?

These questions deserve answers supported by evidence, transparency and public accountability.

It is important to distinguish between Bondo as a traditional institution and the cutting of girls and women associated with some initiation ceremonies. Not every Bondo initiation necessarily involves FGM. Indeed, Sierra Leone has already seen initiatives demonstrating that cultural initiation can take place without cutting. The question is whether political leaders are supporting the preservation of culture in ways that protect girls, or helping to perpetuate a harmful practice under the protection of tradition.

The distinction matters because culture should never become a convenient shield against scrutiny, particularly when the bodies, dignity and futures of children are at stake.

A global crisis that demands local courage

Female genital mutilation is not an isolated Sierra Leonean problem. It is a global human-rights and public-health crisis.

According to UNICEF’s 2024 global estimates, more than 230 million girls and women alive today have undergone FGM. The affected population includes more than 144 million people in Africa, over 80 million in Asia and approximately six million in the Middle East. The practice is also found in diaspora communities across the world.

The World Health Organization estimates that more than four million girls are at risk of undergoing FGM every year. FGM has no health benefits and can cause severe bleeding, infections, urinary difficulties, chronic pain, sexual-health complications, psychological trauma and complications during childbirth. In some cases, it can be fatal.

The international community has committed itself to ending FGM by 2030 under Sustainable Development Goal 5.3. Yet UNICEF warns that the pace of progress must accelerate dramatically if that ambition is to become reality.

These figures represent more than statistics. They represent childhoods interrupted, bodily autonomy violated, and girls exposed to risks they did not choose.

Sources: UNICEF, Female Genital Mutilation: A Global Concern (2024); WHO, Female Genital Mutilation (2025).

Sierra Leone: A country at a crossroads

Sierra Leone occupies a particularly important place in this global conversation.

The country’s 2019 Demographic and Health Survey found that approximately 83 per cent of women and girls aged 15–49 had undergone FGM, down from 90 per cent in 2013. That decline offered evidence that change is possible, even in a society where the practice is deeply embedded in social relationships, traditional institutions and expectations surrounding womanhood.

However, an overall decline must not create complacency. A prevalence rate of 83 per cent remains extraordinarily high. It means that millions of personal histories, family relationships and social expectations may be connected to the practice.

In many communities, Bondo initiation is understood as a passage into womanhood. It may involve cultural instruction, community belonging, social recognition and the transmission of traditional knowledge. For many families, the institution carries a profound cultural meaning.

But acknowledging that significance does not require accepting every practice associated with it.

The central human-rights question is whether a girl can grow into adulthood without being subjected to a procedure that risks her health and violates her bodily integrity. No cultural institution should be beyond constructive reform, and no girl should have to surrender her rights to secure acceptance in her community.

The challenge for Sierra Leone is not to humiliate traditional communities or dismiss their heritage. It is to protect girls while working with communities to preserve the positive elements of cultural identity.

When politics enters the initiation ground

This is where the politics of FGM becomes especially important.

In societies where traditional authorities hold considerable social influence, politicians may have strong incentives to maintain relationships with influential traditional leaders. Such relationships can be entirely legitimate when they support development, education, healthcare and community welfare.

But they become a matter of public concern when political support, money or influence is allegedly used to encourage activities that expose girls to harm.

Reports and allegations of politicians sponsoring mass Bondo initiations therefore deserve serious, independent scrutiny. Who provides the money? Who organizes the ceremonies? Who decides whether girls are old enough to participate? What safeguards exist? Are any public resources involved? And what conditions, if any, accompany such sponsorship?

These are questions of public interest, not attacks on a particular political party or ethnic community.

A responsible investigation must establish the facts before assigning blame. Financial records, credible eyewitness accounts, organizers’ statements, public announcements and other verifiable evidence should be examined before any individual is accused of wrongdoing.

Nevertheless, the absence of a completed investigation must not become an excuse for political silence.

If a politician funds an initiation ceremony, the public has a legitimate interest in knowing whether that funding supports cultural education, a bloodless rite of passage, or a ceremony involving FGM. The distinction should be clear and verifiable.

The million-dollar question remains: if political sponsorship is occurring, what does the sponsor hope to achieve, and who bears the cost when the ceremony exposes a girl to harm?

The economics of tradition

There is also an economic dimension that deserves attention.

In June 2026, Sierra Leone’s Awoko newspaper reported warnings from the National Ceremonial Chairman of the Council of Traditional Healers that some Bondo initiation practices were increasingly being driven by financial gain. The report included claims about substantial fees associated with initiation and training.

Those claims require careful verification, but they raise an important issue: what happens when a traditional practice becomes a source of income for the people who organize it?

Where livelihoods, payments and social status depend on the continuation of a practice, abandonment can become economically and politically complicated. People who might otherwise support reform may fear losing income, influence or community standing.

This does not mean every traditional leader is motivated by money, nor does it mean Bondo should be reduced to a commercial enterprise. It means that effective reform must examine the economic incentives that sustain harmful practices alongside the beliefs and social expectations that perpetuate them.

If the elimination of FGM is to succeed, governments and development partners must support alternative livelihoods, community education and dignified cultural practices that do not depend on cutting.

The law must not stop at child marriage

Sierra Leone has taken an important legislative step through the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2024, which prohibits child marriage and provides legal protections for children.

However, the country continues to face a major legal gap: the sources reviewed for this article indicate that Sierra Leone has no comprehensive law explicitly criminalizing FGM as a practice in itself.

This distinction is critical. Preventing child marriage does not automatically prevent FGM. A girl can be subjected to FGM without being married, and a ceremony can expose a child to harm even when no marriage follows.

Legislation must therefore address the specific risks associated with FGM, protect girls and women, provide accessible reporting and referral mechanisms, and ensure that survivors can obtain appropriate medical, psychological and social support.

Law reform must be accompanied by enforcement, public education and safeguards against intimidation. Laws that exist only on paper cannot protect girls who face pressure from family members, community authorities or influential individuals.

The government, Parliament, the judiciary, law-enforcement institutions and child-protection agencies all have responsibilities. Traditional leaders and political representatives also have an opportunity to demonstrate that cultural leadership and children’s rights are compatible.

What our book, The Politics of FGM, seeks to expose

Our book, The Politics of FGM, examines female genital mutilation beyond the narrow boundaries of tradition and individual choice. It interrogates the intersection of FGM with political power, child marriage, legislation, international assistance and the responsibilities of elected representatives.

At its heart, the book challenges the tendency to treat FGM as a problem that exists only inside traditional communities while overlooking the wider systems of influence that can sustain it.

It asks readers to consider whether governments and political institutions are doing enough to protect girls, whether legislation adequately addresses the realities they face, and whether international aid and development commitments are producing meaningful change on the ground.

The book also invites a difficult examination of the relationship between political promises and practical action. A leader may publicly endorse children’s rights while remaining reluctant to confront powerful constituencies whose support is politically valuable. Where such contradictions exist, they deserve scrutiny.

The purpose is not to condemn an entire culture or to portray every politician as complicit. It is to insist that no political leader, traditional authority or institution should be exempt from accountability when the welfare of children is at stake.

The central argument is straightforward: FGM cannot be ended sustainably if the social, economic and political systems that protect its continuation remain beyond examination.

This is why the question of political sponsorship is so important. If evidence establishes that political money or influence is being used to facilitate ceremonies involving FGM, those responsible must explain their decisions and face the appropriate legal and public scrutiny.

Bondo without blood: An alternative is possible but only as a step to the main goal.

The debate need not be framed as a choice between abandoning cultural identity and continuing FGM.

Sierra Leone has already witnessed an alternative. Reporting by Politico SL documented an initiative in Port Loko District in which approximately 70 young initiates participated in a Bondo ceremony without the cutting ritual. The initiative involved traditional practitioners who pledged to stop performing FGM.

This example demonstrates that reform need not erase cultural identity. Traditional instruction, community belonging and the celebration of a girl’s development can be retained without subjecting her to genital cutting.

Such initiatives deserve evaluation and expansion as a mean to the end of FGM not for it sustainability for another lasting initiation but as a route to the final end of FGM.

Questions Sierra Leone must answer

The debate over FGM sponsorship demands clear answers to several questions:

- Are politicians or political organisations funding mass Bondo initiations, and what documentary evidence establishes the nature and purpose of that funding?


- Where public money is involved, what safeguards ensure that it does not finance activities involving FGM?


- What protections are available to girls who are pressured or coerced into initiation?


- Why has Sierra Leone not yet established a comprehensive legal framework explicitly prohibiting FGM?


- What practical support is being provided to traditional practitioners willing to abandon cutting while preserving positive cultural education?


- Will political parties publicly commit to ensuring that no campaign, public programme or political donation supports FGM?


- What independent monitoring and reporting mechanisms will enable communities to report risks without fear of retaliation?

These questions should be put to all political parties, not only those currently in government. The protection of children must transcend electoral competition.

A call to political conscience

As a humanitarian, child-rights advocate and anti-FGM campaigner, I believe the debate must move beyond condemnation without solutions.

Governments must invest in prevention, protection, survivor-centred healthcare, education and economic alternatives. Parliament must address legal gaps. Civil society must continue to document abuses and support affected communities. Journalists must investigate claims responsibly. Traditional leaders must be included in reform, and men must accept their responsibility to challenge harmful practices rather than treating FGM as an issue that concerns women alone.

International partners must also ensure that their programmes are measured by their impact on girls’ safety and rights, not merely by the number of meetings held, campaigns launched or funds disbursed.

Most importantly, politicians must decide whether their legacy will be measured by the loyalty they secure from powerful constituencies or by the futures they protect for the country’s children.

If a mass initiation is organized without cutting, with informed and voluntary participation, appropriate age safeguards and genuine protection for girls, it can become part of a constructive cultural transition. If, however, sponsorship is used to encourage FGM, silence critics or shield harmful practices from accountability, it becomes a matter that demands urgent investigation.

The million-dollar question cannot be buried

Sierra Leone has an opportunity to show that tradition can evolve, political leadership can be accountable and girls can enjoy both cultural belonging and bodily autonomy.

But that future requires honesty about the forces that sustain FGM. It requires asking who benefits, who pays, who makes the decisions and who is left to live with the consequences.

The question is not whether Sierra Leone should preserve its cultural heritage. It should.

The question is whether preserving that heritage must come at the expense of a girl’s health, dignity and fundamental rights. It must not.

And so we return to the million-dollar question:

If politicians are sponsoring mass Bondo initiation drives in which FGM is practised, why are they doing so and who will hold them accountable?

The answer must be established through credible evidence, independent investigation and public transparency. Until it is, political leaders should be expected to declare their position, disclose their involvement and demonstrate, through their actions, that protecting girls is more important than securing political advantage.

Every girl deserves the right to grow up safe, educated, healthy and free to determine her own future. No political calculation, cultural expectation or financial interest should outweigh that right.

The politics of FGM must finally become a politics of protection.

Because no tradition is worth a child’s suffering, and no political ambition is worth a girl’s bodily integrity.

About the author

Ishmeal Alfred Charles is a Sierra Leonean humanitarian, child-rights advocate, author and anti-FGM campaigner with nearly two decades of experience in humanitarian and social-development work. A former child soldier, he has dedicated much of his life to protecting vulnerable children and challenging practices that threaten their safety and dignity. He is a Community Voice volunteer with GAMS and continues to advocate for the abandonment of FGM, community-led reform and the protection of girls and women.

Selected references

- UNICEF (2024), Female Genital Mutilation: A Global Concern. https://data.unicef.org/resources/female-genital-mutilation-a-global-concern-2024/


- World Health Organization (2025), Female Genital Mutilation. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/female-genital-mutilation


- Sierra Leone Demographic and Health Survey (2019), FGM prevalence findings.


- SierraLII, Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2024. https://sierralii.gov.sl/akn/sl/act/2024/5/eng2024-07-11


- Awoko, “FGM Has Become Big Business – Traditional Healer Sounds Alarm” (28 June 2026).


- Politico SL, “Sierra Leone Initiates Bondo Without FGM.” https://politicosl.com/articles/sierra-leone-initiates-bondo-without-fgm https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/archives/65470

 

The Angel Care Foundation, a United States-based philanthropic organisation, is set to officially launch its Angel Blanket Initiative in Sierra Leone on Thursday, 22 October 2026, as part of its broader commitment to improving maternal and newborn wellbeing across Africa.

The official launching ceremony, scheduled to take place at the New Brookfields Hotel in Freetown at 10:00 a.m., is expected to attract representatives from Government institutions, healthcare facilities, diplomatic missions, private sector organisations and development partners to discuss opportunities for collaboration and the successful implementation of the initiative in Sierra Leone.

Established in 2020 by Dr. Olivia Tchanque, the Angel Care Foundation is a humanitarian organisation dedicated to improving the lives of vulnerable individuals and communities through interventions in healthcare, education, water and sanitation, and humanitarian assistance.

Through its flagship Angel Blanket Initiative, the Foundation has set an ambitious target of distributing one million blankets to newborn babies across Africa within five years. The programme seeks to provide essential warmth and comfort to newborns while promoting maternal health education and raising awareness about the importance of proper postnatal care.

Sierra Leone will become the second African country to benefit from the initiative, following its successful launch in Accra, Ghana, on 25 June 2026. The expansion into Sierra Leone represents another important step towards achieving the Foundation's continental objective of supporting mothers and newborn babies, particularly those in vulnerable communities.

Under the initiative, mothers will receive soft blankets made from 100 per cent cotton for their newborn babies upon discharge from participating healthcare facilities. Beyond providing physical comfort and protection, the programme will incorporate educational materials designed to equip mothers and caregivers with essential information on newborn care, the identification of danger signs and the importance of seeking timely postnatal healthcare services.

The Foundation believes that providing newborn babies with warmth, dignity and appropriate care during their earliest days can contribute to improved maternal and child wellbeing while encouraging families to adopt healthier childcare practices.

The initiative also seeks to strengthen awareness of maternal and newborn health challenges by working closely with healthcare professionals and institutions responsible for providing maternity and postnatal services.

The forthcoming launch in Freetown is expected to provide an opportunity for the Angel Care Foundation to establish strategic partnerships with local institutions, healthcare providers, businesses and humanitarian organisations to facilitate the effective distribution of blankets and the delivery of health education to mothers across participating communities.

As part of preparations for the programme, the Foundation is encouraging interested organisations and development partners to support the initiative through financial contributions, medical partnerships, logistical assistance, supplies, communication services and other forms of institutional collaboration.

Such partnerships are expected to play an important role in ensuring that the initiative reaches mothers and newborn babies who need additional support, particularly in communities where access to essential maternal and child healthcare services remains a challenge.

Although the Foundation has outlined its broader continental target of distributing one million blankets, specific distribution figures for Sierra Leone and the healthcare facilities that will participate in the programme are expected to be determined through consultations with local implementation partners.

The Angel Care Foundation hopes that the initiative will not only provide practical assistance to mothers and newborn babies but also encourage greater cooperation among stakeholders working to improve maternal and child health outcomes.

With the theme “One Blanket. One Baby. One Message of Unity,” the Angel Blanket Initiative seeks to demonstrate how a simple humanitarian gesture can promote compassion, solidarity and collective responsibility towards protecting newborn babies and supporting mothers.

The official launch on 22 October 2026 is therefore expected to mark the beginning of a new humanitarian partnership aimed at strengthening newborn care, promoting maternal health awareness and extending practical support to families across Sierra Leone. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/archives/65465

 

SUCCEED Sierra Leone commemorated World Mental Health Day in Makeni on Saturday, 10 October 2026, bringing together partner institutions, health professionals and people with lived experience of mental health challenges to promote dignity, inclusion and stronger community support.

Held under the theme, “Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change,” the event highlighted the importance of listening to people affected by mental health conditions and involving them in decisions that shape mental healthcare and policies.

The commemoration brought together the Justice and Peace and Human Rights Commission, the Bombali District Health Management Team (DHMT), Caritas Makeni and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Activities began with a public awareness march through the streets of Makeni, followed by a programme at the University of Makeni (UniMak) Auditorium.

Participants called for greater public understanding of mental health, an end to discrimination and sustained support for individuals seeking treatment and recovery.

SUCCEED Sierra Leone is part of a six-year research project running from 2020 to 2026. The project involves a consortium spanning five African countries and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, with support from the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). It is scheduled to conclude this year.

Speaking during the programme, Peer Researcher, Esther Moses Kamara, shared her personal journey of living with mental health challenges and working towards recovery. Her account highlighted the importance of community support and demonstrated how people with lived experience can overcome adversity and make meaningful contributions to society.

The Director of the Justice and Peace and Human Rights Commission, Fr. Aloysius Kamara, commended SUCCEED Sierra Leone for its contributions to mental health awareness and support. He encouraged people experiencing mental health challenges to seek assistance, reminding participants that it is never too late to seek help or rebuild their lives.

Bombali DHMT Mental Health Focal Person, Fatmata Nata Kamara, emphasized that mental health is a basic human right, rather than a privilege. She underscored the need to respect the dignity of people affected by mental health conditions and ensure that they receive appropriate care and support.

Representatives of IOM identified stigma as a major barrier to effective mental healthcare, noting that discrimination in workplaces and communities can discourage people from seeking help and undermine their recovery.

Dr. Emmanuel Kallon, IOM Data Management Officer, stressed the need for continued counselling, public education and community-level interventions to address these barriers and improve access to support.

IOM’s Cecilia Coker highlighted the particular mental health needs of migrants. Migrants participating in the event also shared their recovery stories and acknowledged the Agency’s assistance, drawing attention to the value of sustained psychosocial support.

SUCCEED Sierra Leone Principal Investigator, Dr. Rebecca Esliker, said this year’s theme highlighted the rights of Sierra Leoneans living with mental health challenges. She emphasized the importance of recognizing their experiences and ensuring that their voices inform discussions about care, support and inclusion.

The commemoration ended with a call for participants to become mental health ambassadors in their communities. Speakers urged stronger cooperation among health institutions, civil society organisations, development partners and communities to build a safer, more supportive and stigma-free Sierra Leone. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/archives/65460

New Life Ministries International provided free shopping items to more than 300 women during its Women’s Department’s 26th National Women’s Conference, held from October 6 to 11, 2026, at Miracle City on Ross Road in Cline Town, Freetown.

The conference, organized under the theme “EMERGE,” brought together participants from across Sierra Leone, Liberia and The Gambia for worship, prayer, teaching and fellowship. Delegates attended from Kailahun, Bo, Kenema, Bonthe, Pujehun, Kabala, Makeni, Kambia, Freetown and other communities.

Rev. (Mrs.) Felicia Neufville of Monrovia, Liberia, delivered the keynote address. Rev. (Mrs.) Irene Cole, the ministry’s International Women’s Supervisor and Co-General Overseer, served as chief convener.

A major feature of the gathering was the free shopping exercise held on Friday, October 9, within the church compound. Eligible women received three to four items from a selection that included 25-kilogram bags of rice, cloth, shoes and ladies’ bags. Rechargeable speakers were also provided for pastors.

Rev. (Mrs.) Irene Cole explained that the exercise was open to fully registered women who had participated in the conference from its opening day through Friday. She said the initiative aimed to offer practical support and encourage consistent participation in the annual conference.

“This is an effort to encourage women to participate every year in the conference and also to give back to women across the country,” she said.

The items were secured through contributions from well-wishers and members of the ministry’s Women’s Department. Rev. (Mrs.) Irene Cole thanked contributors for their support, saying their generosity had helped organizers reach more women this year.

She disclosed that 150 women benefited from the inaugural free shopping exercise in 2025, compared with more than 300 at this year’s conference. She described the increase as an encouraging development and said organizers intend to improve the programme further in the coming year.

Beyond the material assistance, the conference offered women opportunities to share experiences, build relationships and strengthen their faith. Its “EMERGE” theme guided activities focused on spiritual growth and fellowship, while the free shopping exercise added practical support to the programme.

Beneficiaries expressed appreciation to the leadership of New Life Ministries International and Rev. (Mrs.) Irene Cole. Several said they had not expected to receive such extensive assistance and prayed for the continuation of the conference and the initiative.

The six-day gathering concluded on Sunday, October 11, having brought together women from different communities and neighbouring countries through a programme combining worship, fellowship and direct assistance. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/archives/65455

President Dr. Julius Maada Bio has outlined five priorities for securing lasting peace in Africa, calling for stronger democratic institutions, preventive diplomacy, regional cooperation, people-centred security and sustainable financing for African-led peace operations.

Delivering a keynote lecture at the Geneva Graduate Institute in Geneva, Switzerland, on Tuesday, 13 October 2026, President Bio stressed that lasting peace requires more than ending hostilities. It also demands sustained efforts to address the underlying conditions that drive conflict.

The lecture, titled “Building Lasting Peace in Africa: The Catalytic Role of ECOWAS,” formed part of the institute’s Director’s Global Leadership Series.

“The absence of war is the beginning of peace. It is not its guarantee,” President Bio declared.

Drawing on his experience as a former soldier, Sierra Leone’s post-war recovery and his tenure as the immediate past Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority, the President highlighted the country’s transition from receiving international peacekeeping support to contributing to peacekeeping efforts abroad.

He emphasized that regional and international solidarity can help create the conditions for peace, but national ownership, justice and effective institutions remain essential to sustaining it.

President Bio identified preventive diplomacy and early intervention as critical measures for averting conflict. He proposed a Regional Prevention Compact under which agreed early-warning triggers would automatically initiate mediation before crises escalate.

He also called for stronger democratic institutions and accountable governance, stressing that peaceful political transitions and public confidence in institutions are fundamental to preventing instability.

Citing Sierra Leone’s peaceful transfers of power in 2007 and 2018, the President urged policymakers to assess peacebuilding efforts by considering both the wars brought to an end and the conflicts prevented.

On regional cooperation, President Bio advocated “cooperative sovereignty,” urging West African states to respond collectively to shared security threats. He reaffirmed the importance of dialogue with Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, while acknowledging that ECOWAS must learn from its shortcomings and deliver tangible results for citizens.

The President further called for people-centred security and greater investment in opportunities for young people. He stressed that peace is difficult to sustain where insecurity, injustice and economic exclusion persist.

He underscored the need for sustainable financing for African-led peace operations and reiterated Sierra Leone’s support for reform of the United Nations Security Council to give Africa a fairer voice in global peace and security decisions.

“The greatest achievements in peacebuilding are the wars that never began, the elections that passed peacefully, the young people who found work instead of weapons,” President Bio said.

He concluded that lasting peace must be measured by more than the silence of guns. It must also be reflected in whether people, especially young people, have the security, opportunities and confidence to build a better future. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/archives/65452

The United States Department of State has retained Sierra Leone on Tier 2 in its 2026 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, recognizing improvements in the Government's efforts to combat human trafficking while raising serious concerns about inadequate funding, corruption, weak victim protection services and the continued exploitation of vulnerable Sierra Leoneans at home and abroad.

The report acknowledges that Sierra Leone has demonstrated increased commitment to addressing trafficking through additional investigations, prosecutions, victim identification and assistance programmes. However, it maintains that the country has not fully satisfied the minimum standards required for eliminating human trafficking.

According to the State Department, Sierra Leone's continued placement on Tier 2 reflects measurable progress compared with the previous reporting period, although significant challenges remain in law enforcement, victim rehabilitation and prevention.

One of the major developments highlighted was the increase in trafficking investigations from 13 cases during the previous reporting period to 39 cases. Authorities also prosecuted 39 suspects, compared with 20 previously, demonstrating greater law enforcement activity.

Despite those improvements, convictions declined from four to two, raising concerns about the effectiveness of prosecutions and the criminal justice system's ability to hold traffickers accountable. The Government did not provide sentencing information for those convicted.

The report noted that Sierra Leone's Anti-Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Act of 2022 criminalizes sex trafficking and forced labour, prescribing a minimum punishment of 25 years' imprisonment for offenders.

However, enforcement continues to face difficulties because specialized investigators and judges are unavailable in several districts. Limited resources, inadequate training and insufficient understanding of trafficking legislation also affect investigations and prosecutions.

The Transnational Organized Crime Unit of the Sierra Leone Police leads trafficking investigations, supported by the Family Support Unit in cases involving children, while State Counsel within the Law Officers' Department prosecute offenders.

The report further observed that some trafficking allegations are investigated as fraud or labour violations, resulting in charges carrying lighter penalties than those prescribed under anti-trafficking legislation.

Corruption and suspected official complicity were also identified as significant concerns. Although no Government officials were reportedly investigated or prosecuted for trafficking-related offences, the State Department warned that corruption continues to undermine effective law enforcement.

Regarding victim protection, the report recorded improvements in identifying and assisting survivors. Authorities identified 72 trafficking victims, compared with 57 during the previous reporting period.

Those identified included 37 women, four men, 18 boys and 13 girls. All were referred for assistance, while the Government reported providing support to 72 victims, compared with no victims reportedly assisted during the preceding period.

Nevertheless, victim protection services remain inadequate, particularly in providing safe accommodation, medical treatment, counselling, legal representation and rehabilitation assistance.

The Government currently lacks dedicated shelters capable of accommodating trafficking survivors and depends heavily on non-governmental organizations to deliver essential services.

Two organizations provide shelter facilities primarily for women and children, leaving male survivors with limited access to appropriate accommodation and specialized assistance.

Working in partnership with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Government provided assistance valued at NLe829,500, approximately US$35,000, to support services delivered through the two organizations.

Authorities also revised the National Referral Mechanism to address emerging trafficking patterns and developed operational procedures intended to improve standards within shelters nationwide.

However, the report noted that victims received no court-ordered restitution following criminal convictions, limiting their opportunities to obtain financial compensation for exploitation.

On prevention, Sierra Leone continued implementing its 2024–2028 National Action Plan against human trafficking and maintained an interagency task force responsible for coordinating national interventions.

The Government also established a trafficking survivors' network to incorporate the experiences and recommendations of survivors into national policies and prevention programmes.

Despite those initiatives, financial allocations for prevention declined considerably. Government funding dropped from NLe245,700, approximately US$10,876, during the previous reporting period to NLe90,000, approximately US$3,797.

The reduction highlighted continuing concerns about the availability of adequate resources to sustain awareness campaigns, investigations and protection activities.

Among positive developments, the Government resumed operations of its toll-free anti-trafficking hotline, enabling members of the public to report suspected trafficking offences and seek assistance.

Two telecommunications companies also partnered with the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Agency to distribute SIM cards intended to strengthen reporting mechanisms.

Additionally, authorities collaborated with the Sierra Leone Football Association on public awareness activities targeting communities particularly vulnerable to trafficking.

The report acknowledged improvements in regulating overseas employment recruitment agencies, including stricter licensing requirements, verification of employment contracts and measures prohibiting recruitment fees charged to prospective migrant workers.

However, trafficking networks continue exploiting economic hardship, unemployment and limited opportunities to deceive individuals seeking employment abroad.

According to the report, traffickers frequently recruit victims from rural communities and transport them to urban centres and mining areas, where they experience forced labour, sexual exploitation and other abusive conditions.

Children face particular risks in agriculture, artisanal mining, fishing, domestic servitude, begging, quarrying, ceramics production and petty trading.

The report also identified homelessness, forced marriages, natural disasters and economic vulnerability as circumstances that increase exposure to trafficking.

Social media has become another recruitment channel, with criminal networks advertising fraudulent employment opportunities and promising attractive salaries to unsuspecting individuals.

Sierra Leoneans travelling to Guinea, Mauritania, Europe and Middle Eastern countries, including Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon and Oman, reportedly face exploitation through forced labour and sexual trafficking.

Particularly concerning were reports that young African women, including Sierra Leoneans, were allegedly recruited through deceptive vocational training programmes before being placed in military drone production facilities in Russia.

Media and civil society organizations cited in the report described hazardous working environments, surveillance, contract manipulation, wage violations and recruitment fees as indicators of possible trafficking.

The report additionally highlighted the exploitation of Sierra Leoneans in fraudulent online operations abroad.

Although Sierra Leone has recorded improvements, the findings demonstrate that substantial challenges remain in preventing trafficking, protecting survivors and prosecuting offenders.

The assessment underscores the importance of stronger institutional coordination, increased financial investment, effective law enforcement and international cooperation to protect vulnerable citizens and strengthen Sierra Leone's response to human trafficking. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/archives/65449