A quiet but growing wave of dissatisfaction is building within Sierra Leone’s security sector as prolonged delays in the supply of their entitled bags of rice threaten to erode morale and compromise operational effectiveness.

Personnel from the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF), Sierra Leone Police (SLP) and the Prisons Department are expressing increasing frustration over what they describe as a deepening crisis linked to the non-disbursement of funds by the Ministry of Finance.

The issue, which began as sporadic delays, has now escalated into what security experts warn could become a serious threat to national stability. For several months, rice allocations, a long-standing staple entitlement for security forces, have either been delayed or halted entirely.

According to police sources, rice supplies have been delivered intermittently over the last five months, but arrears dating back three months remain unsettled.

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“The rice we receive is neither consistent nor adequate,” said a senior police officer. “Despite numerous engagements with both the National Security Adviser and the Minister of Internal Affairs, the problem remains unresolved. Officers are losing patience.”

The situation within the military is reported to be even more severe. Reliable sources within the armed forces reveal that soldiers have gone without rice supplies for a cumulative four months 2024. While the Ministry of Defence has reportedly fulfilled its obligations by processing and forwarding vouchers for nine months (2023-2024) to the Ministry of Finance, the funds necessary for disbursement to contractors remain unreleased. “Many soldiers feel disillusioned and abandoned,” one military source disclosed. “There’s a growing sense of neglect from the Government.”

Equally troubling is the status of the Prisons Department. In 2023, the Government owed five months’ worth of rice supply for inmates. That figure has now risen to seven months in 2024, affecting not only the prison population but also correctional officers. “We are operating in a volatile environment. The absence of basic food provisions is a recipe for chaos,” one prison staff member lamented. “This situation is unsustainable.”

Insiders from across the security sector cite bureaucratic bottlenecks and a lack of urgency within the Ministry of Finance as the primary reasons for the delays. Despite meeting all administrative requirements, including the submission of duly processed payment vouchers, suppliers remain unpaid, leading to widespread shortages.

Inquiries to the Ministry of Finance yielded little clarity. A spokesperson confirmed that the Government is indebted to various contractors but declined to comment specifically on the rice supply issue. “High-level discussions are ongoing,” the spokesperson said, without providing a timeline for resolution, a response that has done little to ease tensions.

Security analysts warn that the implications go far beyond the lack of bags of rice. “This is not just about rice; it’s about the welfare and readiness of the forces responsible for protecting the country,” one analyst noted. “Prolonged neglect of their basic needs risks weakening the pillars of national security.”

One senior officer summed up the gravity of the crisis: “A hungry force is a weak force. And a weak force puts the whole country at risk.”

As murmurs of discontent echo through barracks, police stations and correctional facilities, the need for urgent intervention has become critical.

Investigations into the issue are ongoing, but with pressure mounting, the Government faces increasing calls to take immediate and decisive action before the situation spirals beyond control.