Dear Sir/Madam,

SUBJECT: STRENGTHENING COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS FOR SIERRA LEONE’S FUTURE

We, members of the Sierra Leone Advocacy Movement (SLAM), extend our profound gratitude to the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) for your unwavering support and commitment to Sierra Leone. Your work in fostering anticorruption initiatives, enhancing public order management during critical election periods, and building the capacity of institutions such as the Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU) has laid a foundation for meaningful change. These efforts have demonstrated the potential for creating resilient governance frameworks despite ongoing challenges.

We are however writing in response to the INL’s recent statement regarding Sierra Leone, as detailed on the State Department’s website (https://www.state.gov/bureau-ofinternational-narcotics-and-law-enforcement-affairs-work-by-country/sierra-leonesummary/). While we acknowledge and commend the efforts outlined in this statement, it is imperative to address the growing challenges that threaten to reverse these achievements. Despite the best efforts of international partners like the INL, systemic issues of governance, transparency, and public accountability persist in our beloved nation. These challenges undermine the very foundation of democracy and the well-being of our people. Recent developments involving high-level government complicity in drug trafficking have exposed an urgent and critical need for deeper international collaboration and intervention. We are particularly drawing your attention to the following:

The Drug Trafficking Crisis: A Symptom of Governance Failure – Sierra Leone’s strategic location has long made it a target for drug trafficking networks. The most recent case – seven suitcases of suspected cocaine discovered in a Sierra Leonean 2 Embassy Vehicle impounded in Guinea on January 16, 2025 – has highlighted how government institutions and diplomatic channels have been weaponized for transnational crime. The Republic of Guinea’s decision to declare Ambassador Alimamy Bangura “persona non grata”, coupled with the Bio administration’s contradictory narrative about his recall, underscores a profound lack of transparency and accountability at the highest levels.

These Incidents are Not Isolated

• January 16, 2025: The seizure of an Embassy Vehicle in Guinea carrying seven suitcases of suspected cocaine reveals a troubling pattern of abuse within Sierra Leone’s diplomatic channels. This incident underscores the misuse of state resources and highlights the complicity of high-level officials in facilitating transnational crime.
• July 12, 2024: Two Sierra Leonean women were arrested in Guinea with ten packets of cocaine, highlighting the involvement of Sierra Leonean nationals in trafficking networks that exploit porous borders and weak enforcement mechanisms.
• August 5, 2022: A Sierra Leone-flagged ship was intercepted off Guinea’s coast carrying three tons of cocaine, a staggering amount that underscores the scale of the operations and the exploitation of Sierra Leone’s maritime infrastructure.
• June 2020: Sierra Leone’s Lungi International Airport was identified as a transit point for narcotics, with security breaches enabling drug shipments to pass undetected.
• March 2019: A joint operation between INTERPOL and local law enforcement uncovered a clandestine network smuggling cocaine through the Mano River region, further implicating Sierra Leone as a critical hub for transnational crime.

These incidents collectively expose a much deeper and systemic crisis requiring immediate and decisive action. They not only highlight the failure to secure national institutions but also reflect a leadership unwilling to address the roots of corruption and criminal exploitation within its ranks.

The Intersection of Electoral Fraud and Corruption: The fraudulent June 2023 elections, marred by statistical anomalies and condemned by international observers like The Carter Center and the European Union, exposed an administration detached from accountability. By manipulating the electoral process, the administration has forfeited its moral authority to lead anti-corruption and anti-trafficking efforts. This same lack of integrity permeates the Bio administration’s outdated and punitive approach to 3 addressing drug trafficking – an approach that prioritizes shaming the poor and vulnerable while shielding officials securely embedded in criminal networks.

The leadership’s failure to recognize addiction as a physiological and societal issue reflects a profound ignorance of basic science and public health principles. Instead of adopting evidence-based harm reduction strategies, the Bio administration doubles down on punitive measures that exacerbate the suffering of the most marginalized, perpetuating cycles of poverty and despair. The consequences of these systemic failures are stark: Generations remain trapped in deprivation, stripped of the tools and opportunities necessary to break free. With an administration that exploits its own people for profit while neglecting its responsibility to protect them, Sierra Leone’s fight against organized crime and corruption is not just compromised – it is fundamentally paralyzed.

A Call to Action: Recommendations for Change

To create meaningful and lasting reform, we respectfully urge the INL to expand its engagement with Sierra Leone by prioritizing the following actions:

1. Launch Independent Investigations: Establish international task forces led by INTERPOL, the UNODC, and other global partners to investigate drug trafficking networks within Sierra Leone. Exclude compromised local authorities from critical stages to ensure impartiality and transparency. The findings of these investigations must be made public, and those implicated, regardless of their status, should face prosecution in neutral international courts.

2. Strengthen Anti-Corruption Mechanisms: Introduce robust oversight of diplomatic privileges and government operations. Implement strict audits and impose sanctions on officials implicated in trafficking or corruption. Deploy independent monitors at key institutions, such as customs and ports, to prevent the misuse of government resources and ensure accountability in real-time.

3. Support Evidence-Based Drug Policies: Invest in harm reduction strategies, including rehabilitation centers and community outreach programs. Use advanced testing technologies, such as Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GCMS), to analyze narcotics like “kush” and inform public health responses. Incorporate best practices from successful international programs to tailor a sustainable framework that addresses Sierra Leone’s unique challenges.

4. Promote Transparency and Accountability: Insist on public updates regarding investigations into drug trafficking and electoral fraud. Tie future funding to measurable improvements in governance and anti-corruption efforts. Develop a publicly accessible dashboard that tracks the progress of investigations and reforms, ensuring the people can monitor their government’s commitment to change.

5. Empower Civil Society: Collaborate directly with NGOs, journalists, and grassroots organizations to foster accountability and community engagement. Provide secure channels for whistleblowers to report crimes anonymously. Enhance capacitybuilding programs for civil society actors to equip them with the tools necessary to drive systemic reforms and effectively engage with global partners.

6. Address Root Causes: Expand youth employment programs, vocational training, and education initiatives to combat poverty and reduce vulnerability to criminal networks. Prioritize community-driven solutions by involving local leaders and stakeholders in tailoring programs that resonate with the needs and aspirations of their regions. A Nation at a Crossroads: Sierra Leone’s youth, the cornerstone of its future, are watching as their dreams are eroded by corruption and crime. The Bio administration’s inaction and complicity have turned hope into despair, leaving generations trapped in cycles of addiction, poverty, and violence.

We appeal to the INL, through the Embassy of the United States in Sierra Leone, to continue its invaluable work but to reorient strategies toward direct partnerships with civil society and grassroots organizations. By doing so, you will empower Sierra Leoneans to lead sustainable reforms and rebuild a nation rooted in integrity, accountability, and justice. Sierra Leone is at a critical juncture. With your support, we can steer the country toward a brighter future where governance reflects the will of the people and prioritizes their welfare above all else.

P.S. We invite you to explore our recently published analysis in a book, “Building a Nation: Good Governance and Democratic Principles in Sierra Leone.” As we unite for change in 2025, this resource provides valuable insights for activists, policymakers, and concerned citizens committed to Sierra Leone’s transformation. Find it here: link.

Yours Sincerely,

Dr Alfred A. Veenod Fullah DIRECTOR-GENERAL

CC: Office of the President of Sierra Leone

• Speaker of the Sierra Leone House of Parliament
• Office of the President of Sierra Leone
• Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) 5
• Inspector General of Sierra Leone Police (IG-SLP)
• Chief of Defence Staff, Sierra Leone Armed Forces (CDS-RSLAF)
• National Coordinator, Office of National Security, Sierra Leone
• Chairperson, Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion, Sierra Leone
• Leonardo Santos Simao, Representative of the Secretary-General & Head of UN Offic e for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS)
• African Union (AU)
• Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
• Amnesty International
• Antony Blinken, United States Secretary of States Brian Forni, Vice President, Congressional and Public Affairs
• The Rt. Hon Patricia Scotland, Commonwealth Secretary-General
• Karim Ahmad Khan, Chief Prosecutor, International Criminal Court (ICC)
• Richard YOUNG, Chief de Division, Afrique de l’Ouest
• Ms. Ursula Von Der Lyen, European Commissioner
• The United Nations Representative in Sierra Leone
• H. E. Bola Tinubu, President of Nigeria & Chairman of ECOWAS
• H. E. Oumar Touray, President of ECOWAS Commission
• Madam Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang, former VP of The Gambia
• H.E Nana Akufo Addo, President of Ghana
• H. E. Bassiru Faye, President of Senegal
• H. E. Mamadi Doumbouya, President of Guinea
• H. E. Joseph Boakai, President of Liberia
• David Lammy, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth & Dev Affairs, UK
• Neil Alan John Coyle, MP for Bermondsey & Old Southwark, UK
• Ambassador Aly Diallo, Ambassador of the Republic of Guinea to the UK&I
• Ambassador Mohammad Maidugu, Acting High Commissioner of Nigeria in the UK&I
• Her Excellency Dr Fatou Bensouda, Head of Mission, The Gambia high Commission, UK&I
• H.E Fatimata Dia, Ambassador of Senegal to the UK&I
• H.E Gurly T. Gibson-Schwarz, Ambassador of Liberia to the UK&I
• British High Commissioner to Sierra Leone
• Ambassador of the United States of America to Sierra Leone
• Head of the European Union Delegation in Sierra Leone
• General Consul of Canada in Sierra Leone
• Ambassador of China to Sierra Leone
• Ambassador of Germany to Sierra Leone
• Ambassador of Lebanon to Sierra Leone
• Ambassador of Iran to Sierra Leone
• Ambassador of Brazil to Sierra Leone
• Ambassador of Sweden to Sierra Leone
• Ambassador of Libya to Sierra Leone
• Ambassador of Egypt to Sierra Leone
• Ambassador of Cuba to Sierra Leone
• Ambassador of Guinea to Sierra Leone
• Ambassador of Liberia to Sierra Leone
• High Commissioner of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Sierra Leone
• High Commissioner of Ghana to Sierra Leone
• High Commissioner of The Gambia to Sierra Leone
• General Consul of Italy in Sierra Leone 6
• Honorary Consul-General of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in Sierra Leone
• Honorary Consul-General of Ireland in Sierra Leone
• Honorary Consul-General of Japan in Sierra Leone
• Honorary Consul-General of India to Sierra Leone
• Honorary Consul of Senegal in Sierra Leone
• Honorary Consul of Switzerland in Sierra Leone
• Honorary Consul of Syria in Sierra Leone
• Honorary Consul of Turkey in Sierra Leone
• Honorary Consul of Mali in Sierra Leone
• Honorary Consul of Ukraine in Sierra Leone
• Honorary Consul of Romania in Sierra Leone
• Honorary Consul of Norway in Sierra Leone
• Honorary Consul of Hungary in Sierra Leone
• Honorary Consul of France in Sierra Leone
• Honorary Consul of Belgium in Sierra Leone
• Honorary Consul of The Netherlands in Sierra Leone
• Honorary Consul of Spain in Sierra Leone
• Honorary Consul of Serbia in Sierra Leone
• Honorary Consul of Austria in Sierra Leone
• Honorary Consul of Denmark in Sierra Leone Honorary Consul of Russia in Sierra Leone
• Honorary Consul of Malaysia in Sierra Leone
• Honorary Consul of South Africa in Sierra Leone
• Civil Society Movement – Sierra Leone (CSM – SL)
• Media Reform Coordinating Group of Sierra Leone (MRCG)
• Sierra Leone Association of Non-Governmental Organizations (SLANGO)
• Civil rights Defenders – Sierra Leone
• National Elections Watch (NEW) – Sierra Leone
• Campaign for Good Governance (CGG) – Sierra Leone
• Women’s Forum – Sierra Leone
• Network Movement for Justice and Development (NMJD)
• Sierra Leone Legal Aid Board
• Faith-Based and Interfaith Organizations – (Interreligious Council of Sierra Leone)
• Council of Churches in Sierra Leone (CCSL)
• Fourah Bay College – University of Sierra Leone
• Institute of Governance Reform (IGR)
• Youth Partnership for Peace and Development (YPPD)
• Children’s Forum Network
• Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) – Sierra Leone
• Awoko Newspaper – Sierra Leone
• Liberty TV Online – Sierra Leone
• Radio Democracy 98.1 FM Station – Sierra Leone
• The New York Times
• The Washington Post
• The USA Today
• The Cable News Network (CNN)
• The MicroSoft National Broadcast Corporation (MSNBC)
• The Fox News
• The Associated Press Thomson Reuters
• The National Public Radio (NPR)
• The Brookings Institution
• The Heritage Foundation
• The Center For American Progress
• The National Association For The Advancement Of Colored People (NAACP)
• The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
• The MoveOn
• The Democratic National Committee
• The Republican National Committee
• The EMILY’s List
• The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
• The Sky News
• Al Jazeera
• The Independent Television (ITV)
• The Times
• The Financial Times
• The Guardian
• The Daily Telegraph

Sierra Leone Advocacy Movement (SLAM-Global) Motto: Trust, Unity and Social Justice Email : advocacy1@slam-global.org.uk Mobile :UK – +447725982424/+447564115946 EU – +46734836874/+34676768005 US – 01732-619-9510/01608-772-3917 January 3, 2025 To All Our Compatriots Worldwide