The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) has deviated from its initial schedule in assessing the approval of a compact for the Republic of Sierra Leone due to the 2023 general elections' outcome. In a statement released on Thursday, the MCC affirmed its commitment to maintain an enduring partnership with the Government of Sierra Leone. However, it refrained from specifying a potential timeframe for compact approval.
MCC Compacts represent five-year grant agreements between the MCC and eligible countries aimed at funding initiatives aimed at fostering a conducive environment for private sector investment. Countries seeking compact assistance must meet specific scorecard benchmarks established by the MCC. In the 2023 MCC scorecard, Sierra Leone has successfully met 11 out of the 20 indicators, marking its fourth consecutive pass since the Julius Maada Bio government took office in 2018.
Nevertheless, in light of widespread concerns surrounding the credibility of Sierra Leone's June 2023 elections, the MCC has suspended the approval of the grant for Sierra Leone.
Former U.S. Ambassador to Sierra Leone, David Reimer, expressed doubts about the legitimacy of the elections in a recent interview, hinting at the possibility of the U.S. reevaluating its collaborations with Sierra Leone.
"The United States would reexamine its government-to-government initiatives, including a Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) compact grant valued at hundreds of millions of dollars. In the period leading up to the compact, we made it clear to the Sierra Leonean government that a fair, free, open, and transparent election was a prerequisite for securing a compact. While Sierra Leone had met all other requirements up to that point, given the uncertainties surrounding the election results, we are scrutinizing all aspects, including the MCC compact," Reimer remarked.
In response to inquiries regarding the status of the program, the MCC communicated via email, stating, "MCC is deeply concerned about the credibility of Sierra Leone's recent electoral process, and these concerns have directly affected the pace of compact development."
This comprehensive program entails a substantial grant of $450 million from the United States, to be disbursed over a five-year period, with the aim of enhancing various sectors within Sierra Leone.