An opposition Member of Parliament from the All People’s Congress (APC) has accused the Bio-led administration of failing to adequately support the welfare of Sierra Leone’s security forces, citing poor living conditions, low morale, and insufficient logistics among the country’s military and police personnel.
The MP, speaking during a parliamentary debate earlier this week, said that despite repeated budgetary allocations and public assurances from government officials, the reality faced by officers in the field remains dire.
“Our men and women in uniform continue to risk their lives daily to protect the nation, yet they do so under some of the most difficult circumstances imaginable,” the lawmaker said. “Many barracks are in deplorable condition, salaries are delayed, and basic equipment is lacking.”
The accusation comes amid heightened national attention to security and discipline within the armed forces, following a series of internal reshuffles in the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) and renewed government pledges to strengthen the Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU) to combat drug trafficking and cross-border crime.
The MP also questioned the government’s commitment to reforming the National Security Architecture, arguing that key institutions such as the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) and SLP have been politicized and under-resourced.
Government officials have not yet issued a formal response to the allegations, but a senior source within the Ministry of Internal Affairs dismissed the claims as “politically motivated,” insisting that the administration has “invested more in the welfare and modernization of the security sector than any previous government.”
Over the past year, the Bio government has launched several initiatives aimed at improving security sector conditions, including housing upgrades for officers, expanded training opportunities, and the introduction of new welfare policies. However, critics say these measures remain largely concentrated in Freetown, leaving provincial officers behind.
Political analysts note that the debate over security sector welfare reflects broader tensions between the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) and the main opposition APC, particularly as the country prepares for next year’s mid-term governance review and rising concerns over public confidence in law enforcement institutions.
By Lans Jarret
