Sierra Leone: 63 Years of Abject Failure and the Endless Cycle of Loans

A legacy of visionless leadership and perpetual dependency

—enough is enough

By Reggie Cole | December 14, 2024

Another loan. Another press release. Another moment for Sierra Leone’s so-called leaders to pat themselves on the back while the nation sinks deeper into poverty. The World Bank just approved an $80 million financing package for Sierra Leone — $60 million for budget support and $20 million to prepare for natural disasters. And we’re supposed to celebrate?

No, this is an indictment of 63 years of abject failure, incompetence, and corruption by both the APC and SLPP.

In a country with 44 minerals, 7 rivers, and arable land that could make us the breadbasket of West Africa, we are borrowing to pay wages.

This is the legacy of these two political parties — a legacy of visionless leadership and perpetual dependency.

Let’s not pretend that natural disasters or pandemics are the root cause of our economic misery. The real culprits are the policy missteps, corruption, and lack of innovation from those in power.

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READ The two sides of our political framework follow the same road. They both wind up in the same place every single time.

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I started a business from my children’s bedroom with a £100,000 loan. Within 36 months, I paid back the lender £1 million, and that business grew to a valuation of £120 million. That’s called vision, hard work, and accountability. Meanwhile, Sierra Leone — a nation blessed with immense natural wealth — has leaders who can’t even keep the lights on without running to the World Bank or IMF, cap in hand.

What kind of foolishness is this?

How can a country with so many resources and potential be reduced to begging for $80 million to survive? This isn’t just incompetence; it’s a national disgrace. While our politicians hoard wealth in foreign mansions and send their children to elite schools overseas, the average Sierra Leonean endures misery, poor infrastructure, and a stagnant economy. The people are robbed blind, yet still wave flags for these failed parties.

APC and SLPP supporters, listen up

If you continue to endorse these thieves, you deserve every struggle you face. Your loyalty is being weaponized against you. Your future is being auctioned off to international lenders who care nothing for your well-being. This is what happens when visionless leaders are allowed to rule unchecked — they trade your prosperity for their personal comfort.

Sierra Leone’s potential is limitless, but until we reject this cycle of corruption, tribalism, and short-term thinking, we will remain beggars at the global table. The answer isn’t another loan or another IMF program. The answer is visionary leadership that can turn our resources into wealth, our potential into prosperity, and our struggles into success.

It’s time to say enough is enough. Sierra Leone doesn’t need another loan — it needs leaders with courage, integrity, and a plan for genuine growth. Until then, expect more loans, more poverty, and more disappointment.

#Lonta!

From Council Flat to Chaos: How a Londoner Became President of Sierra Leone, and Why It Was Doomed from the Start

Who the cap fits, let HIM/HER wear it!

By Reggie Cole | 24th August 2024

A Disconnect from Sierra Leone's Reality. A man who lived in a London council flat for 22 years, unemployed and seemingly disconnected from the everyday struggles of making ends meet, somehow rises to become the President of Sierra Leone.

Imagine this: a man who lived in a London council flat for 22 years, unemployed and seemingly disconnected from the everyday struggles of making ends meet, somehow rises to become the President of Sierra Leone.

At first glance, it sounds like a modern fairy tale—a story of unlikely triumph. But what has followed is anything but a fairy tale. Today, the country finds itself in chaos—economically crippled, politically fractured, and socially volatile. How did we get here, and why was this outcome so predictable?

A Disconnect from Sierra Leone's Reality

Sierra Leone Political Map — Dstrict and Chiefdoms — Source: Statistics SL

For over two decades, this individual was living far away from the streets of Freetown, instead experiencing life in London—specifically, in a council flat funded by the UK welfare system. Now, this is not to undermine the struggles of anyone who has faced unemployment or economic hardship. However, governing a nation like Sierra Leone demands more than sympathy—it demands acute, hands-on knowledge of the country’s unique struggles.

The Sierra Leonean people suffer daily from failing infrastructure, chronic poverty, and a devastating history of corruption and tribalism. How can someone who spent years unemployed in a foreign country, insulated from these issues, have any real understanding of the realities facing the ordinary Sierra Leonean? Leadership isn’t something you can grasp from afar. It requires being on the ground, living the struggles, and engaging deeply with the people. This individual’s detachment from these issues left him unprepared to govern effectively.

Lack of Leadership Experience

Leadership, especially on a national level, requires years of experience, decision-making skills, and the ability to navigate complex and sensitive issues. For someone who has been unemployed for over 20 years, the lack of experience in managing even small teams or resources should be a red flag, let alone handling a nation. Running a country like Sierra Leone demands a grasp of everything from economic policy to social justice, international diplomacy to healthcare reform. This role is no place for someone learning on the job. Yet, here we are, watching the country spiral into chaos because of a profound lack of preparedness in the highest office.

Misalignment with the People

Being detached from Sierra Leone for so long, this individual could not possibly understand the heartbeat of the nation. Sierra Leone is a complex country with deep-rooted tribalism, economic hardships, and a fragile political structure. The people’s needs are diverse and urgent: better healthcare, education, reliable infrastructure, and jobs. A leader without intimate knowledge of these realities is bound to be misaligned with the needs of the people. Governance requires connection and empathy—qualities best fostered by living among and understanding the people you aim to serve. In this case, living abroad for decades only created a massive gulf between the leader and the nation.

National Stability Requires Expertise

The truth is simple: governance requires expertise, not just in politics but also in economics, law, and social reform. An inexperienced leader is bound to make critical missteps. Running a country is not like running a household—it requires a strategic approach to problem-solving, international diplomacy, and an understanding of complex systems. When someone with little to no relevant experience steps into such a role, chaos is inevitable. And today, that chaos is Sierra Leone’s reality.

The Predictable Downfall

In the end, Sierra Leone’s current predicament was predictable from the start.

You cannot lead a country into prosperity with a complete disconnect from its history and problems, nor can you tackle tribalism, poverty, and corruption without a deep understanding of the fabric of the nation. Sierra Leone deserved better leadership—leadership rooted in knowledge, experience, and a genuine connection with its people.

What we are seeing today is the consequence of placing an unprepared individual in a position of immense power. The lesson for all of us is clear: leadership matters, and in a country as fragile as Sierra Leone, it’s not something we can afford to get wrong.