Sierra Leone’s Chief Minister, Moinina David Sengeh, along with senior government officials, is set to meet with Congressional staff in Washington, D.C., in a critical lobbying effort aimed at securing U.S. Congress approval for the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact Program.

The proposed program, which includes a substantial US$480 million grant focused on enhancing Sierra Leone’s energy sector, has faced delays since July due to a Congressional hold on approval.

The government of Sierra Leone is eager to finalize the Compact by September, demonstrating commitment to implementing recommendations from the Tripartite Committee Report—a document backed by the U.S. government and international partners aimed at addressing electoral reforms in preparation for the 2028 elections.

The MCC Program’s approval has been under scrutiny following the controversial outcomes of the June 2023 multi-tier elections. U.S. Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Bryan Hunt, recently commented on World Democracy Day about the “deeply entrenched challenges” in Sierra Leone’s electoral framework, emphasizing concerns over malfeasance that have cast doubt on the integrity of the electoral process.

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In a bid to bolster its public image and address these pressing issues, the Sierra Leone government has enlisted the services of U.S.-based public relations firm Weintraub Communications, according to the Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah.

He stated that the engagement will not incur any financial burden on the Sierra Leonean government.