HomeCountries & Areas…Sierra Leone hide Sierra Leone Subscribe View Fact Sheet Embassies & Consulates Bureau of African Affairs Ambassador Bryan David Hunt International Travel Information What you need to know before you go: visas, embassy & consulate locations, vaccinations, etc. International Travel Information: Learn More Current Travel Advisories Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution Learn More U.S. Relationship These are excerpts from the U.S. Relations With Sierra Leone U.S.-Sierra Leone Relations U.S. Assistance to Sierra Leone Bilateral Economic Relations U.S.-Sierra Leone Relations The U.S. established diplomatic relations with Sierra Leone in 1961, following its independence from the United Kingdom. The U.S. and Sierra Leone enjoy a warm and cordial relationship. The two countries are linked by the history of slavery in the U.S., an institution that would send a large number of African slaves from present-day Sierra Leone to the then-colonies of The U.S. established diplomatic relations with Sierra Leone in 1961, following its independence from the United Kingdom. The U.S. and Sierra Leone enjoy a warm and cordial relationship. The two countries are linked by the history of slavery in the U.S., an institution that would send a large number of African slaves from present-day Sierra Leone to the then-colonies of Georgia and South Carolina. In early 2014, the United Nations hailed Sierra Leone as a success story due to its remarkable post-conflict transition following a brutal civil war (1991-2002), which destroyed the country’s infrastructure and hampered it’s political, social, and economic development. Sierra Leone’s positive trajectory was interrupted in May 2014 when the deadly Ebola epidemic struck and quickly overtook the country’s fragile health care system. The outbreak was declared contained in November 2015. Since, the government launched an ambitious recovery plan that has received significant donor support. Collapse U.S.-Sierra Leone Relations Read more about U.S.-Sierra Leone Relations U.S. Assistance to Sierra Leone Sierra Leone relies on significant amounts of foreign assistance from both bilateral and multilateral donors. The U.S. is among the largest bilateral donors, with emergency assistance spiking due to the Ebola crisis. Mission partners comprised of the State Department, Department of Defense, USAID, CDC, Peace Corps, and the Millennium Challenge Corporation totaled an estimated $600 million in the fight against Sierra Leone relies on significant amounts of foreign assistance from both bilateral and multilateral donors. The U.S. is among the largest bilateral donors, with emergency assistance spiking due to the Ebola crisis. Mission partners comprised of the State Department, Department of Defense, USAID, CDC, Peace Corps, and the Millennium Challenge Corporation totaled an estimated $600 million in the fight against the outbreak. Post-Ebola programming is aimed at strengthening the health care system, bolstering infection prevention procedures, and enhancing supply chain accountability. The CDC is working closely with the government to set up a public health institute to enhance the government’s ability to better predict and combat Ebola and other diseases like malaria. There are also plans to staff a permanent CDC office in the country. Collapse U.S. Assistance to Sierra Leone Read more about U.S. Assistance to Sierra Leone Bilateral Economic Relations U.S. exports to Sierra Leone include transportation equipment, agricultural products, machinery, and chemicals, while its imports from Sierra Leone include minerals, metals, machinery, and agricultural products. Sierra Leone is eligible for preferential trade benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act. The two countries do not have a bilateral investment treaty. On September 17, 2012, senior officials for both countries U.S. exports to Sierra Leone include transportation equipment, agricultural products, machinery, and chemicals, while its imports from Sierra Leone include minerals, metals, machinery, and agricultural products. Sierra Leone is eligible for preferential trade benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act. The two countries do not have a bilateral investment treaty. On September 17, 2012, senior officials for both countries signed an Open Skies air services agreement. Collapse Bilateral Economic Relations Read more about Bilateral Economic Relations Integrated Country Strategies The Integrated Country Strategy is the four-year strategy articulating U.S. priorities in a given country. The Chief of Mission leads the strategy. View Integrated Country Strategies Investment Climate Statements The Investment Climate Statements analyze a variety of economies that are or could be markets for U.S. businesses and provide information on the business climates. View Investment Climate Statements Fiscal Transparency Report The Fiscal Transparency Report analyzes government transparency and identifies needed changes to improve public spending accountability. View Fiscal Transparency Report Discover More 2022 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2022 Report on International Religious Freedom 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report View all Department Reports and Publications COVID-19 Vaccine Deliveries Since September, 2021 the United States has donated 2,607,870 safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine doses with the people of Sierra Leone. This includes 2,120,670 Pfizer and 487,200 J&J doses. Of the 2,607,870 vaccine doses, 100% were donated in partnership with COVAX. The United States is committed to leading an international and coordinated effort to accelerate access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines to meet global needs. The United States is working with other governments and partners including COVAX, Caricom, and the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT) to protect communities from COVID-19 and apply lessons from this pandemic to enhance health security now and in the future. Learn more about our work Delivering Vaccines and on COVID-19 Recovery. More Vaccine Deliveries Highlights November 3, 2023 Freetown, Sierra Leone: The American International School of Freetown: 2023-2024 Fact Sheet September 26, 2023 Freetown, Sierra Leone: The American International School of Freetown: Spring 2023 Special Needs Profile August 31, 2023 Visa Restriction Policy on Undermining the Democratic Process in Sierra Leone August 7, 2023 Embassy Luanda Launches the Dinheiro Digital é Melhor Project to Increase Financial Inclusion July 14, 2023 On Sierra Leone’s Election VIEW ALL NEWS Tags Bureau of African Affairs Sierra Leone
