Dr. Victor Moinina, a political and social commentator, shared his thoughts on Sierra Leone’s ongoing drug problems and how they’re affecting the country’s image internationally.

In a recent interview, Moinina explained that the issue is not just about government actions but how it affects every Sierra Leonean.

“One thing I have often maintained is that when things happen in Sierra Leone, it doesn’t just affect the government; in fact, it affects us, the individuals,” Dr. Moinina said.

He recounted a personal experience involving a close friend, a soon-to-be economist, who was traveling from Switzerland to Washington. “Quite recently, a friend of mine, who is a soon-to-be economist in the country, was on his way from Switzerland to Washington. He was stopped because when he showed his passport, he was asked if he was coming from Sierra Leone. Since it was a Sierra Leonean passport, he was checked. Unfortunately, he had left his headphones behind. When he returned to collect them, everyone on the flight was taken off the plane and rechecked before he could move.”

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Dr. Moinina stressed how these kinds of incidents show how much the international community takes Sierra Leone’s reputation seriously, even in situations that may seem small. “That tells you how serious it is for a country that is spending up to $7 million on presidential travels alone for a year out of Sierra Leone in rebranding the country. What can we say as Sierra Leoneans?” he said. “We have seen, oftentimes, where other Sierra Leoneans are moving all across the globe, and they’re having problems.”

He also addressed the difficulties Sierra Leoneans face when traveling abroad, noting that many are encountering problems due to the country’s negative image. “People will tell you that we’re not a drug-friendly country, but what we have seen in the last few months not even a year has led the international community to view us otherwise. I can say there’s a lot of work to be done.”

Dr. Moinina concluded by calling for stronger action to protect Sierra Leone’s future. “And I believe as a country, we need to do a lot more than just saying things. Let’s us get things done properly because at the end of the day, it’s Sierra Leoneans that will suffer,” he said. “We have Sierra Leoneans vying for scholarship opportunities to go study outside, but how will they go outside when the country’s image is tainted?”

He also warned that if the country doesn’t address the drug-related issues, Sierra Leone could gain a harmful reputation on the global stage. “We cannot allow Sierra Leone to become like countries known for drug trafficking, such as Colombia or Venezuela,” he said. “Let’s think of proactive measures to market our country, and I’ll tell you, the marketing is not doing us any good at the moment.”