Freetown, 25th December, 2025 – In his annual Christmas Day broadcast, President Julius Maada Bio urged Sierra Leoneans to embrace peace, gratitude, and unity while reflecting on the challenges and progress of the past year.
“Christmas is a season that brings us together as families, as neighbours, and as one people,” the President said, opening his address with warm greetings and prayers for “peace, love, and quiet joy.”
The Head of State acknowledged that 2025 had been a demanding year, requiring “patience, discipline, and collective responsibility.” He noted that some of the Government’s decisions were “hard and were felt in homes and markets,” but stressed they were necessary to protect stability and lay a stronger foundation for the future.
President Bio highlighted signs of economic improvement, pointing to falling prices and stabilisation measures.
Rice and essential goods: Prices have begun to decline. Exchange rate: Stable throughout the latter part of the year. Petrol: Reduced and steady. Inflation: Dropped to single digits, “the lowest level in nearly 20 years,” he said.
“This progress reflects careful economic management, increased local food production, and disciplined use of public resources,” Bio explained, adding that the Government will continue to protect vulnerable households.
He reaffirmed food security as a national priority, citing the Feed Salone initiative, which has boosted rice self-sufficiency and supported farmers with inputs, equipment, and market access. “When farmers do well, the whole nation eats,” he declared.
Looking ahead, the 2026 National Budget will consolidate these gains, focusing on health, education, energy, jobs, and responsible economic management.
The President stressed the importance of accurate data for effective planning, announcing the launch of the 2026 Population and Housing Census, the first since 2015.
“This Census is not about politics. It is about people, fairness, and the future,” he said. “It will be conducted transparently and in accordance with the law, and it will count every Sierra Leonean.”
On foreign policy, Bio highlighted Sierra Leone’s strengthened position in 2025, including the approval to proceed with the Millennium Challenge Corporation Compact, unlocking major investments in electricity and jobs. The country’s participation in the Mission 300 Compact, expanding electricity access across Africa.
He also mentioned a dignified close to Sierra Leone’s tenure on the UN Security Council, where the nation “spoke for peace, justice, and the protection of innocent lives.” And highlighted the states continued leadership as Chair of ECOWAS, advocating for dialogue, constitutional order, and regional stability.
Turning to domestic concerns, Bio addressed the growing threat of drug abuse, particularly the deadly substance known as Kush.
“To every young Sierra Leonean: your life has value. Your future matters,” he said firmly. “No substance is worth the loss of your health, your dignity, or your dreams.”
He pledged intensified action against traffickers and criminal networks, alongside expanded prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation. “Punishment alone does not heal,” he added, calling on parents, teachers, religious leaders, and communities to unite against the scourge.
Reflecting on his role, Bio said, “Public service is stewardship. It is hard work. It is the discipline of showing up every day to do what must be done.” He reaffirmed his commitment to building “a more stable, more just, and more prosperous Sierra Leone not for some, but for all.”
As the nation celebrates Christmas, the President urged forgiveness, kindness, and remembrance. He paid tribute to teachers, doctors, nurses, farmers, traders, public servants, and security forces, thanking them for sustaining the country.
He also welcomed Sierra Leoneans in the diaspora, whose presence “enriches our families and our nation.”
“Christmas reminds us that hope is a choice,” Bio concluded. “As we look ahead to 2026, may God bless our homes with peace, fill our hearts with love, and grant our nation renewed hope, opportunities, and steady progress.”
