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Sierra Leone - US Relations

The United States has traditionally maintained amicable relations with Sierra Leone. It also supported international efforts to end a brutal, decade-long civil war in Sierra Leone, and prevent the illegal sale of diamonds from that country. At present, the United States is seeking promote peace and stability in Sierra Leone by providing economic and humanitarian aid.

US relations with Sierra Leone began with missionary activities in the 19th century. In 1959, the US opened a consulate in Freetown and elevated it to embassy status when Sierra Leone became independent in 1961. U.S.-Sierra Leone relations today are cordial, with ethnic ties between groups in the two countries receiving increasing historical interest. Many thousands of Sierra Leoneans reside in the United States. In fiscal year 2010, total U.S. bilateral aid to Sierra Leone in all categories was $23.65 million. U.S. assistance focused on the consolidation of peace, democracy and human rights, health education, particularly combating HIV/AIDS, and human resources development. The U.S. is the largest single donor to the Special Court for Sierra Leone.

United States assistance in Sierra Leone is vital to maintaining peace and security and ensuring the development of the countries of the Mano River basin. Since 1961, USAID has helped Sierra Leone gain political stability, achieve food security and strengthen democratic governance through targeted assistance to key sectors such as education and agriculture. In 1974, the U.S. downgraded its development assistance for almost two and half decades, resuming full operations in 1999 to help bring closure to the country’s civil war. Using a two-pronged approach during the war years (1991-2002), USAID provided humanitarian and emergency assistance, promoted reintegration and reconciliation, and supported the implementation of the Lomé Peace Accord which brought an end to the decade-long civil war.

In 2000, the U.S. Government reignited its programs in Sierra Leone, aiming to reduce the threat of regional destabilization, to raise awareness of the widespread atrocities that were committed during the civil war, and to increase international support for the government and the people of Sierra Leone.

During the Transition Strategy from 2001-2003, USAID focused on the social and economic reintegration of war torn communities including disarmament and reconciliation, and strengthening democratic governance. A limited program transitioned into a broader assistance portfolio with USAID’s mission in Guinea providing overall coordination and oversight for the Sierra Leone program.

Since 2006, USAID has identified opportunities to enhance democratic governance. It has supported legitimate and transparent trade in diamonds through the Kimberly process, and promoted equitable benefits to communities; it has used community engagement and mass media to support the way government, citizens, and civil society work and interact at all levels; it has helped to improve the income of rural households; and it has increased and led participatory management of forest resources.

Assistance efforts focused on building institutional capacities through: strengthening good governance and consolidating peace and security through democratic political processes; supporting economic growth and private sector investment, particularly in the productive agriculture and natural resources sectors; and, reducing food insecurity and increasing the standard of living through developmental food aid.

In 2008 USAID was just starting to implement the Promoting Agriculture, Governance and Environment Program (PAGE) as a means to assist Sierra Leone in promoting good governance and transparency while also impacting agricultural and environmental productivity and increased access to markets. This was a 4-year $13 million project.

Although not a PEPFAR country, Sierra Leone was the recipient of $500,000 in FY08 for HIV/AIDS education for awareness building around prevention and treatment and to strengthen the health system for improved and reliable HIV/STD surveillance assessment. Other USG assistance efforts included funding for trafficking in persons, child labor, refugee assistance, special self-help grants to communities, and IMET.

In 2014 following the outbreak of the Ebola which continued till November 7, 2015 when WHO declared Sierra Leone Ebola free; the US government through USAID provided emergency support for the Ebola emergency response and now investing in the country’s post Ebola recovery and long term development. USAID is working with the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS)to ensure that health facilities are restored and fully functioning to provide a package of essential primary health care services, provide clinical care and programs to reduce stigma for Ebola survivors, renew the demand for maternal and health care services, provide lifesaving drugs to pregnant women , lactating mothers and children under five years old, eliminate endemic diseases, carry out research to identify animal reservoir for Ebola and provide technical support to MoHS.

A new Feed the Future program will ensure nutrition and food security by improving the productivity of farming systems and value chain.

The USAID Office of Food for Peace is providing much needed food assistance to address acute food needs of populations affected by the Ebola epidemic. This assistance, provided through a mix of targeted cash transfers, agricultural input provision, local and regional procurement of food, and in-kind food distribution to households directly affected by Ebola Virus Diseases (EVD) , is boosting food access and household purchasing power, while promoting market recovery.