While presenting the 2024 budget in parliament last Friday, Finance Minister endorsed effort made by international community in supporting Sierra Leone especially in difficult times.
But, President Julius Maada Bio has recently given a cold shoulder to members of the international community who he accuses of doing nothing for Sierra Leone.
Even during the war, Bio said, the international community did nothing for the country, although such statements have been condemned by well-informed Sierra Leoneans who witness history firsthand.
Sierra Leone has always faced budget deficits after the war in 2002, and the international community has always lent a helping hand.
Ahmed Fantamadi Bangura also strengthens calls on international partners for financial support as local revenue alone cannot take care of Sierra Leone’s economic problems.
Although the minister did not mention specific organisations and countries, the United States, United Kingdom, EU, United Nations and the Commonwealth has been playing a crucial role in the development of Sierra Leone and the minister still wanted them to move in the same trajectory.
The international community has been sponsoring major governance and rule of law projects to ensure that the country is safe and peaceful.
Roads, bridges, energy and other infrastructural projects were also supported by the international community as part of its effort to ensure that Sierra Leone catch up with other countries.
The United Nations in Sierra Leone supported the judiciary by helping government pay salaries to judicial officers especially magistrates and judges and also supported the mobile court which ensures that justice is brought to the people’s door steps.
The United Kingdom supported governance and accountability by allocating money to the Anti-Corruption Commission as part of their contribution to the campaign against graft in the country.
The fight against corruption is imperative in post-war Sierra Leone as the TRC (Truth Reconciliation Commission) report, 2004 identified corruption as the main cause of the war (1991-2002).
The United Kingdom also supported the defunct Justice Biobele Georgewill commissions of inquiry that recovered stolen money and assets from past politicians.
European Union also funded the construction of major roads and bridges in Sierra Leone especially Magbele-Ferry Bridge, Mabang and Moala-Ferry bridges in the Southern and Northern regions.
EU also provided funds for the construction of the Bo-Liberia, Masiaka-Kambia and Freetown-Bo highways.
Elections in post-war Sierra Leone have also attracted huge funding from the United States, United Kingdom and the European Union including June 2023 elections for which they laid US$11m on the table although the money was not properly utilised by ECSL (Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone).
ECSL is a body mandated by law to conduct and supervise all public elections in Sierra Leone. Funding budget deficits also attracted support for Sierra Leone by the international community as Sierra Leone annually faces budget deficits hovering between US$1.6 and US$2m.
To correct imbalanced budgets, Sierra Leone would turn to the US and other countries for aid, and there is no difference this time as Sierra Leone needs more money than ever.
Business has been quite slow owing to the political tension in the country as well as recent protests which badly affect economic activities and investment in the country.
To take Sierra Leone out of the economic quagmire, the international community is the only and last source of hope.
However, the minister and his boss, President Julius Maada Bio do not seem to be operating on the same platform as the latter have been condemning the United States, the United Kingdom, the EU and other inter-governmental institutions for doing nothing in Sierra Leone even during the war.
He called on the people of Sierra Leone not to countenance the presence of the international community saying it is high time Sierra Leone became a true independent country.
President Bio’s pronouncements nearly triggered protests against the US, Uk and EU diplomats in Sierra Leone a move that signaled disrespect to key development partners.
Intermittently, South-Easterners even threatened to take on the diplomatic community, but threats of counter-protests from the Northeast regions held them back.
Bio’s moves are almost akin to the former US President, Donald Trump who incited riots that resulted in a siege of US law reps at the Capitol with the aim of overturning Joe Biden’s election victory.
It was an action for which the former President is paying the price although he is going again for the US presidency. It is yet unclear whether Bio would be made to pay for his action here in Sierra Leone for overturning an election victory.
Bad blood between government and the international community started after Bio lost the election and refused to go in for a run off prompting calls for genuine results or rerun.
International Election observers particularly EU Election Observation Mission were highly critical of the electoral process which they referred to as one that “lacked transparency.”
Carter Centre Foundation, Commonwealth, African Union and ECOWAS (Economic Community Of West African States) also submitted scathing reports against the electoral process that discredited Bio’s government.
The local election observation group, National Elections Watch (NEW), an umbrella body of civil society organisations that observe and report on elections in Sierra Leone also cast big doubt on the June polls.
NEW Chief, Marcella Samba Sesay made it clear that no candidate in the June elections got the 55 per cent needed to avoid a run-off. The honest comment threatened Marcella’s safety as she left Sierra Leone for UK seeking an asylum.
For months, Bio came under pressure from the UK, EU and the United states with threats of sanctions, travel bans, asset freeze and other punitive measures.
Two months ago, the United States imposed visa restrictions on key government officials that played key roles in election rigging.
The US is now working with immigration authorities to enforce their action against the Bio regime. Last month, a group of peace brokers led by the Commonwealth held a three-day dialogue with the two main political parties to end the post-election stalemate.
The dialogue seemed to have borne fruits as APC’s elected officials have returned to parliament and councils, but the United States have still not reversed their action. The United States and other development partners have vowed not to offer aid to Sierra Leone until election results are investigated.
But, the minister calls on the international community to come to Sierra Leone’s aid although Bio has chosen to walk alone.