By: Mamajah Jalloh
The Ministry of Defence and the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (MoD/RSLAF) has requested a recurrent budget of NLe 1,298,510.4 million for the 2027 financial year to fund the Office of the Director General, Defence Headquarters, Army Headquarters, Naval Headquarters and Air Force Headquarters.
The request is above the ministry’s expenditure ceiling of NLe 318,272.9 million, with an access ceiling of NLe 980,237.5 million.
Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General Amara Idara Bangura, presented the proposed budget on Monday, September 28, 2026, at the Miatta Conference Centre, Youyi Building, Freetown, under the theme, “Building a Transformative, Adaptive and Robust Armed Forces for the Nation.”
In his presentation, Lt. Gen. Bangura outlined the ministry’s key deliverables for 2027, including the recruitment and training of 1,800 personnel, comprising 300 specialists and 500 border guards.
The plans also include the construction of four barracks and refurbishment of four others for Tri-Service Command, upgrading healthcare services to Level III hospital standards, and providing professional military training and education for 30 percent of personnel.
Lt. Gen. Bangura disclosed that the ministry generated NLe 1,586,690 during the first year of 2026. He said additional revenue could be generated from CT scan services under a public-private partnership, with 85 percent of the proceeds allocated to the PPP partners in accordance with a Memorandum of Understanding, as well as from operational X-ray services.
For the 2027 financial year, the ministry is seeking funding for fuel for RSLAF operations, ration cash allowances, quarterly running costs, rice for RSLAF take-home and operational needs, recruitment and training, medical reagents and drugs, and uniforms. These requirements are estimated at NLe 756,455,233.
The Chief of Defence Staff further disclosed that the ministry’s 2026 budget request was NLe 1,735.9 million, but only NLe 286.9 million was approved, representing 16.5 percent of the request and leaving a shortfall of NLe 1,449.1 million, or 83.5 percent.
He said the ministry’s Public Investment Programme for 2027 covers border security, counter-terrorism and insurgency, maritime security, air power, cybersecurity, agriculture, Level III hospital capacity, specialized spare parts for RSLAF vehicles, military clothing and kits, and the procurement of 65 specialized vehicles.
The total Public Investment Programme request stands at NLe 6,246,007,717.
Lt. Gen. Bangura identified insufficient and late disbursement of funds as major challenges affecting the ministry’s ability to deliver on its programmes during the 2026 financial year.
He called on the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development to approve the proposed budget to enable the MoD/RSLAF to effectively carry out its mandate in the 2027 financial year.