By Kadijatu Bangura, Reporter D.S
The International Monetary Fund has cautioned that Sierra Leone’s public debt continues to pose a high risk of distress, even as the government makes progress in stabilizing the economy.
The warning was issued in the IMF’s latest Country Report, published after the completion of the third review of Sierra Leone’s Extended Credit Facility programme.
While the Fund praised authorities for tightening fiscal and monetary policies that helped stabilize the exchange rate, reduce inflation and borrowing costs, and restore access to private credit, it said debt vulnerabilities remain a major concern.
“Policy tightening has helped stabilise the exchange rate, lower borrowing costs and inflation, and restore private credit access. However, reserve coverage remains low, and debt is at high risk of distress,” the IMF Executive Board stated.
According to the report, public debt is expected to decline over the medium term if reforms are maintained. It is projected to fall from 49.3% of non-iron ore GDP in 2025 to 47.3% in 2026, and further to 31.1% by 2031. External public debt is also forecast to drop gradually over the same period.
However, the Fund warned of near-term pressure points. Under the baseline scenario, the external debt service-to-revenue ratio would remain above its threshold until 2028. The present value of public debt-to-GDP is also projected to breach its threshold in 2026.
Total debt service as a share of government revenue is not expected to fall below 100% until 2028, underscoring the strain that repayments continue to place on public finances.
The IMF urged government to sustain fiscal discipline and pursue prudent borrowing to reduce vulnerabilities and guard against external shocks.
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GOVERNMENT ROLLS OUT STARLINK TO 300 HEALTH FACILITIES TO DRIVE DIGITAL CARE
By Joseph Momoh, Reporter D.S
Freetown July 2026, The Ministry of Health has launched high-speed Starlink satellite internet across 300 government health facilities nationwide, in a major push to digitize Sierra Leone’s healthcare system.
Minister of Health, Dr. Austin Demby, commissioned the service at the Julius Maada Bio Paediatric Centre of Excellence in Lumley, Freetown, on Monday. The rollout targets hospitals, clinics and community health centres with poor or no connectivity.
According to Dr. Demby, the initiative is central to the Ministry’s transition from paper-based patient records to a fully electronic health system. He said reliable internet will enable faster com…
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NEW DEBT SUSTAINABILITY REPORT CALLS FOR PRUDENT BORROWING, MORE REVENUE
_By Saidu Jalloh, Reporter D.S
The Ministry of Finance has concluded a two-week technical workshop to update Sierra Leone’s Debt Sustainability Analysis and Medium-Term Debt Strategy, with officials warning that prudent borrowing and stronger revenue mobilization are critical to maintaining fiscal stability.
The engagement, held at Leisure Lodge in Aberdeen, ended on Friday, July 24, 2026. It was organized by the Public Debt Management Division and brought together the Bank of Sierra Leone, Statistics Sierra Leone, the National Revenue Authority, the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, the Accountant General’s Depa…
US DEPLOYS 6 PEACE CORPS TRAINEES TO BOOST HEALTH AND LEARNING IN RURAL AREAS
By Kadijatu Bangura, Reporter D.S
The United States Embassy in Freetown has deployed six new Peace Corps trainees to Sierra Leone, where they will support education and maternal health programs in rural communities.
The Embassy announced that the cohort will complete 10 weeks of intensive pre-service training before beginning their assignments in schools and maternal health clinics across underserved parts of the country.
According to the statement, the training will cover local language, cultural integration, and technical skills to equip the volunteers for community-based service.
“The arrival of this new group reflects our continued commitment to partnering with Sierra Leon…
US$50M, 150-BED RYADH REFERRAL HOSPITAL PROJECT ADVANCES AFTER RIYADH TALKS
By Joseph Momoh, Reporter D.S
Sierra Leone’s US$50 million, 150-bed Riyadh Referral Hospital project has moved a step closer to implementation following high-level talks in Saudi Arabia.
Ambassador H.E. Mohamed S. Barrie met with the Chief Executive Officer of the Saudi Fund for Development, H.E. Sultan Abdulrahman Al-Marshad, on Sunday at the SFD headquarters in Riyadh. The discussions focused on accelerating ongoing projects and unlocking new investments in health, energy, education and mining.
A key item on the agenda was the Riyadh Referral Hospital, a flagship healthcare facility fully funded by the Saudi Fund. Ambassador Barrie formally presented details of the revised proj…
