Freetown, 1st October 2026- The European Union has suspended €18 million (about $20 million) in financial assistance earmarked for Sierra Leone this year, the Netherlands said on Thursday, citing the country’s alleged failure to cooperate in the arrest and extradition of convicted Dutch cocaine trafficker Jos Leijdekkers.
Dutch Justice Minister David van Weel said the European Commission had taken the decision as pressure on Sierra Leone to act against Leijdekkers, one of Europe’s most-wanted fugitives.
The suspended funding was part of financial support previously promised to Sierra Leone for 2026. A further €22.5 million scheduled for next year could also be withheld if Sierra Leone continues to refuse to cooperate, Van Weel said.
The development could have wider implications for Sierra Leone’s external financing, coming as the country continues to rely on development assistance to support public programmes and economic priorities.
Leijdekkers, a Dutch national, has been sought by European authorities and was sentenced in absentia in the Netherlands to 24 years in prison for his role in smuggling more than seven tonnes of cocaine.
He has also received multiple convictions in Belgium, where his combined sentences amount to about 100 years, according to Reuters.
The Netherlands has repeatedly sought his extradition, but Dutch authorities say Sierra Leone has so far failed to cooperate. Van Weel said the EU’s decision to suspend the funding was intended to increase pressure on Sierra Leone to take action.
The European Commission and the Sierra Leonean government had not immediately responded to requests for comment at the time of publication. The dispute places €40.5 million in EU financial support—comprising the €18 million suspended for this year and a further €22.5 million potentially at risk next year—at the centre of a growing diplomatic and financial disagreement between Sierra Leone and European authorities.
