In Sierra Leone’s bustling streets, where the humble kekeh and motorbike keep the economy moving, one company has quietly cemented an empire — Shalimar Trading, a Lebanese-owned business that has turned the importation of TVS tricycles and motorcycles into a private goldmine.
But what many ordinary Sierra Leoneans see today — from skyrocketing prices to substandard spare parts — is not the result of normal market forces. It’s the product of a monopoly sustained by money, political influence, and manipulation.
Officially, Shalimar Trading presents itself as a legitimate business partner of the Indian manufacturer TVS. In practice, the company has become the sole gatekeeper of TVS motorcycles and kekehs entering Sierra Leone. Importers who have tried to bring in the same brand say they’ve been blocked, threatened, or buried in red tape — with government agencies suddenly becoming “unavailable” to approve new licenses or shipments.
Several business owners who spoke on condition of anonymity accuse Shalimar of using political connections and backroom deals to maintain its grip. “You cannot bring in TVS products without passing through them,” one local dealer said. “If you try, someone up there will make sure your papers don’t move.”
With that control, Shalimar now dictates prices. The cost of a kekeh has doubled in the past few years, despite no corresponding rise in quality or after-sales service. Many riders complain that spare parts sold by Shalimar wear out quickly, forcing them into a cycle of repeated purchases from the same source.
The result? A silent economic suffocation. Thousands of kekeh riders, who form the backbone of urban transport, are trapped between loan payments and unreliable machines. Every spare part, every service, every replacement — all roads lead back to Shalimar.
Inside Sierra Leone’s business circles, Shalimar’s name is often whispered alongside words like “connections,” “bribes,” and “protection.” Industry insiders allege that the company enjoys political shielding — paying its way into the favor of senior government officials, lawmakers, and even enforcement officers.
This unholy alliance has choked competition. Would-be investors and importers say they face threats, bureaucratic sabotage, or sudden “policy changes” when they attempt to enter the market. “It’s not business,” one frustrated investor said. “It’s a mafia system wearing a corporate suit.”
Shalimar’s dominance also reopens a long-standing national concern — the unquestioned power of Lebanese business families in Sierra Leone’s key economic sectors. Many citizens openly describe them as economic mafias, operating in shadows while siphoning profits out of the country.
Critics argue that successive governments have turned a blind eye, preferring the comfort of kickbacks to the discomfort of reform. Meanwhile, millions of dollars flow out through informal financial channels and suspicious “partnerships,” feeding perceptions of money laundering and tax evasion — allegations authorities have yet to investigate with any seriousness.
What’s most tragic is that this monopoly doesn’t just exploit consumers — it kills ambition. Sierra Leonean entrepreneurs who could import, assemble, or distribute similar vehicles are intimidated out of the sector. The message is clear: “Don’t touch what belongs to Shalimar.”
The result is a nation that imports almost everything, pays more than it should, and remains dependent on foreign business cartels protected by local political greed.
If Sierra Leone truly seeks to reform its economy, this is where to start: by dismantling monopolies like Shalimar’s, enforcing competition laws, and protecting local investors from political bullying.
The government’s silence is complicity. Parliament’s inaction is endorsement. And every time a kekeh driver pays three times more for a spare part that breaks in weeks, it is a reminder that corruption is not abstract — it lives in our transport system, our markets, and our leaders’ pockets.
Until the playing field is fair, Shalimar Trading will continue to thrive — not because it is the best, but because it has mastered the art of buying the system.
By Joseph Turay
