Chief Minister Sengeh Visits Juba Barracks, Unveils Development Plans for Military Housing Transformation

Chief Minister Dr. David Moinina Sengeh on Monday visited the Juba Military Barracks alongside the Chief of Defence Staff, the Director General of Defense, and the Chairman of the Assets Commission to assess the facility’s condition and discuss proposed developments for military housing across the country.

During the visit, Dr. Sengeh revealed that the Defence Council has accepted a proposal to transform the 21-acre facility in Freetown’s western area, addressing what he described as unacceptable living conditions for personnel.

“Across the country, only 35% of our military live in barracks. At Juba specifically, only 16 post-colonial units exist, with the majority of houses being makeshift and dilapidated structures allowed to be built. This is unacceptable. It’s a long-standing problem that we are resolving now,” the Chief Minister stated.

Dr. Sengeh noted that the Chief of Defence Staff was born at Juba Barracks and lived there for four years before his promotion, while the current head of the Navy presently resides at the facility. He emphasized that decisions regarding the transformation were made by leadership intimately connected to the ground realities.

Under the proposed plan, part of the Juba site will be redeveloped to include modern officers’ quarters in the same location. A new 500-unit barracks complex will be constructed in Masiaka, with additional housing units planned for the north, south, and east of the country.

The Juba Services School, which serves military families, will remain in its current location as part of the development, the Chief Minister confirmed.

The long-term objective is to achieve 100% barracks accommodation for military personnel by 2030, up from the current 35%.

Dr. Sengeh highlighted ongoing initiatives demonstrating the military’s expanding role in national development. The RSLAF is currently constructing a 56-kilometer road in Tonkolili and has acres of land under cultivation for agriculture.

“Their ambition is to feed themselves by the end of the year,” he said.

The Chief Minister also noted recent milestones under President Julius Maada Bio’s leadership, including the launch of tri-service operations, a 25% salary increase for personnel, and new deployments in UN Peacekeeping missions.

“This is what we mean when we say together we are delivering,” Dr. Sengeh stated. “We honor and respect our gallant troops. They now have a renewed growing respect.”

The Chief Minister revealed that 21,000 young men and women have applied for just 1,000 positions in the ongoing military recruitment drive, reflecting growing public confidence in the armed forces. “I don’t envy those generals leading the recruitment,” he remarked.

Dr. Sengeh used the opportunity to address public concerns about the proposed development, emphasizing that no one has been authorized to pay or sign any deal regarding the Juba facility.

“There is so much misinformation about this process. No one has been given authority to pay or sign any deal. We will follow due process in a very transparent manner,” he assured.

The visit represents the latest step in what defense officials describe as a comprehensive transformation of Sierra Leone’s armed forces, balancing infrastructure development with improved welfare for military personnel.