Freetown, 15th December 2025– The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has raised concerns over Sierra Leone’s governance framework, warning that weak rule of law and entrenched corruption continue to undermine investor confidence and economic growth.
In its Governance and Corruption Diagnostic 2025, the IMF noted that the structure of the judiciary “significantly inhibits its independence,” creating unpredictability in legal disputes and casting doubt on the state’s ability to enforce contracts. According to the report, this lack of judicial autonomy discourages both domestic and foreign investment.
“The structure of the judiciary significantly inhibits its independence, leading to unpredictability of outcomes in legal disputes, creating doubts over the ability of the state to enforce contracts, and so discouraging investment (both domestic and foreign).”
The Fund also highlighted serious challenges in land management, pointing to widespread corruption in both freehold tenures in the Western Area and customary land systems across the provinces. These practices, it said, have resulted in “weak security of real property rights,” further eroding investor confidence and complicating economic development.
“Poor land management, including pervasive corruption in relation to both the freehold tenure in the Western Area and land under customary law, result in weak security of real property rights, impacting investor confidence.”
Beyond these sectoral concerns, Sierra Leone continues to face important governance challenges rooted in longstanding institutional and political dynamics. The persistence of informal practices, politicized appointments, and elite networks has constrained the effectiveness and independence of key state institutions, including oversight bodies such as the anti-corruption commission and the judiciary.
Executive influence over appointments to ministries, departments, and agencies has, in some cases, raised concerns about the risks of institutional capture and uneven enforcement of accountability.
Hence, corruption remains a significant challenge to Sierra Leone’s efforts to achieve sustainable development and inclusive growth. Institutional weaknesses, limited enforcement of the rule of law, and vulnerabilities in public procurement processes have contributed to inefficiencies in the allocation of public resources and have, at times, undermined public trust in government. These challenges constrain the fiscal space available for critical investments in health, education, and infrastructure, and limit the effectiveness of service delivery.
The IMF’s findings underscore the urgent need for reforms to strengthen judicial independence and improve land governance. Without credible enforcement of contracts and secure property rights, Sierra Leone risks losing out on much needed private sector investment.
The report adds to growing calls from civil society and international partners for stronger accountability mechanisms and transparent management of public resources, as the country works to stabilize its economy and attract sustainable investment.
