Chief Minister Clarifies EU Budget Support Delay, Rejects Suspension Claims
Salamatu Y. Kamara Chief Minister David Moinina Senfeh has debunked viral reports circulating on social media claiming that the European Union (EU) has suspended Sierra Leone, describing the reports as false and attributing them to what he called “bad local politics.”
Speaking in an interview with SL News Blog, the Chief Minister said the reports were based on a misinterpretation of the EU’s budget support process, alleging that some people were deliberately spreading negative information about the country.
He explained that budget support from development partners, including the EU, World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF), is usually tied to specific triggers, conditionalities or development objectives that governments are expected to meet within agreed timelines before funds are disbursed.
According to Senfeh, the EU wrote to the Ministry of Finance in June or July regarding its 2026 budget support, which was linked to specific triggers agreed between the government and the EU.
He said some of the agreed triggers were not completed within the required timeframe, resulting in the EU being unable to disburse the budget support for the current cycle.
The Chief Minister stressed that the situation should not be interpreted as a suspension of Sierra Leone by the EU.
“Government has engaged the EU and both parties have agreed to shift the undone triggers to the next cycle,” he said.
Senfeh further accused some local politicians and citizens of being eager to spread negative reports about the country without first verifying the information or allowing for clarification.
He maintained that the issue concerns the timing and fulfilment of agreed budget-support conditions, rather than any suspension of Sierra Leone by the European Union.