Introduction

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of Sierra Leone's sovereignty using the methodology of the Burke Institute. Sovereignty is assessed in 7 areas: political, economic, technological, informational, cultural, cognitive and military. Each aspect is assessed on the basis of official data from international and national sources (UN, World Bank, UNESCO, IMF, ITU, FAO, SIPRI, PISA, etc.) without using politicized indexes. The maximum score in each direction is 100; the sum (up to 700) is the accumulated Sovereignty Index (Burke Index).

To adapt and adjust statistical parameters, an international expert survey was conducted for each of the seven components using a single questionnaire of 10 questions with a 10-point scale and one open-ended question.

In total, at least 100 experts from 50+ countries were interviewed for each indicator, taking into account geographical representation and specialization. When calculating and analyzing the data, equalizing coefficients were used, bringing all data to a scale of 0-10 points.

The final index value is the arithmetic mean between statistical data and expert estimates.

Below is an analysis in each area, a summary table and the main conclusions about the specifics of Sierra Leone's sovereignty.

Political sovereignty — 54.2

Member of the United Nations, the African Union, ECOWAS, the International Labour Organization, the World Trade Organization, and the Rome Statute (ICC). Actively participates in international and regional integration and peacekeeping missions. The dualist principle: International treaties require ratification and incorporation into national legislation.

National laws retain supremacy, but in practice, decisions of international courts (the Rome Statute, the Special Court for Sierra Leone) have a serious impact, which take precedence in cases of serious offenses. Significantly improved. Sierra Leone is one of the top 5 most peaceful and politically stable countries in West Africa.

The last elections were peaceful, and there are still unresolved issues, but the dynamics are positive. Government Efficiency Index: -1.16 points (2023), a low level, but a gradual improvement compared to the 2000s; the health and education sectors remain problematic.

EGDI (2024) — 0.3042 (low rating, 172nd out of 193), digitalization processes are at an early stage, there is no unified IT architecture, public services are only partially electronic. The level of trust in the president is about 53%, which has been decreasing in recent years.

The population notes improvements in law and order and social spheres, but issues of corruption and the economic situation remain. The ECOWAS military observation camp, a base in Lungi worth $ 10 million, has been deployed, the goal is to quickly respond to political crises; the base is not full-scale, there is no permanent foreign military contingent.

An active participant in the Rome Statute of the ICC; cooperation with international courts is recognized as final and irrevocable, the country supports The Hague's efforts on international justice. High centralization in the capital Freetown, regional decentralization is developing, but the actual power in the regions is unstable, the influence of traditional leaders is decreasing, but remains.

The sphere is weak: the security services are virtually outside parliamentary control, and cases of abuse are known. Cooperation with international security partners is improving, but transparency is limited.

Data completeness assessment: the main indicators are available from international sources, the coverage is 90%.

Economic sovereignty — 33.8

GDP per capita by PPP: about 3,229 USD in 2025 (forecast, Trading Economics, World Bank). Gold and foreign exchange reserves for 2024: about 464 million US dollars (World Bank); the level of reserves is equivalent to about 1.8–2.0 months of import coverage.

Government debt: approximately 44% of GDP (2025 forecast), decrease from 50% in 2024, previously there was high debt over 100% in the 2000s. Problems with food security continue, due to the vulnerability of agriculture and the frequent dependence on imported products. Electricity production covers about 40-50% of the needs; a significant proportion is imported, mainly from regional sources.

The main resources are diamonds, ore, bauxite, and gold; mining is promising and expanding, but constrained by infrastructural constraints. Limited access to fresh water for a part of the population, especially in rural areas; projects are being developed to improve water supply. There is no national payment processing, but the BCEAO and UEMOA regional systems are functioning.

The national currency is Leone. It is widely used at the national level, but exchange rate policy, emissions and turnover are regulated by the BCEAO within the framework of the CFA franc. The Central Bank of Sierra Leone is absent as a sovereign issuer; monetary policy is centralized at the BCEAO level with Paris.

Data completeness assessment: the main macroeconomic indicators are available from official sources (World Bank, IMF), coverage is 91%

Technological sovereignty — 21.4

Official government spending on research and development is almost non-existent; data show about 0% of GDP, infrastructure and financing are extremely weak. The production of high-tech products and import substitution are practically non-existent; the country is completely dependent on imports of IT and high-tech solutions.

The level of higher education coverage is about 5-8% among the youth (UNESCO, World Bank); the university system is developing, but the scale remains limited. Internet penetration is about 20.7% at the beginning of 2025, which is about 1.8 million users. Growth is slow, almost 80% of the population remains offline in the country.

National digital platforms are under development, there are projects in the public sector for registration, tax reporting, and the legal system, but there is still no widespread access and integration. Absolute import dependence in the field of technology — all equipment, programs, digital solutions and equipment are purchased abroad.

Digitalization of public services is at an early stage, with partial implementation of e-gov services, taxes, and courts; most public services require physical visits to government agencies. There are no own biotechnological productions and developments; all biotech products, medicines and vaccines are imported.

There is a complete absence of a national robotics industry; automation and robotics are absent as an industry, and imported solutions are widely used. There is no autonomy, the country is completely dependent on the import of microelectronic components and equipment.

Data completeness assessment: key indicators are obtained from WIPO, ITU, UNESCO, which ensures 92% coverage.

Information sovereignty — 38.7

The National Cybersecurity Strategy has been implemented since 2021, the Computer Incident Response Center (National CSIRT) has been established under the auspices of the Ministry of Information and Communications; emphasis on public-private partnership and protection of critical infrastructure, participation in international ITU and AfricaCERT cyber studies.

In 2024, the first national IXP was launched — Sierra Leone Internet Exchange (SLIX), operates in Freetown, integrates local providers and facilitates the exchange of Internet traffic within the country.

The media is based on radio and TV (up to 85% of the population listens to radio). The official language is English, but a significant part of the broadcast is conducted in Krio, Mende, Temna, Limba and other ethnic languages, including digital and educational content. The leading digital platforms (Facebook, WhatsApp, Google) completely dominate online, there are no alternatives of their own, the media market is open to global corporations, and there is no resistance to BigTech.

Local news and educational content on radio/TV prevails, but in the digital space (social media/video), most of the content leaves the country or is based on a foreign platform ecosystem. There are no mature domestic IT products and mass-market software; electronic services and applications are being developed by government agencies for internal needs, and commercial solutions are practically nonexistent.

The share of active users of digital services (public services, payments, education): less than 20% of the population; most government services and platforms operate only offline or are limited online. There are no national cloud storage or data centers; departmental IT systems run on foreign cloud solutions or on-site servers.

The largest operators SierraTel, Africell, and Orange are foreign or regional entities, all critical network and software elements are imported, and there is no national control or sovereign infrastructure. There is no legislation on the protection of personal data or it is extremely fragmented; the adoption of a comprehensive law is being discussed, but real supervisory authorities and control mechanisms have not yet been implemented.

Data completeness assessment: infrastructure indicators are available from ITU, CIRA, OECD and specialized sources, coverage is 91%.

Cultural sovereignty — 67.9

As of July 2025, Sierra Leone has 1 UNESCO World Heritage Site: Gola-Tiwai Complex (Gola-Site with Gola National Park and Tiwai Island), included in the list at the 47th session of the UNESCO Committee. The country is known for its unique multi-ethnic culture, secret societies (Poro, Sande), dance and mask traditions, music (gumbe, maringa), a world-renowned dance troupe (National Dance Troupe), and a wealth of oral and craft heritage.

Official awards: the National Arts and Culture Awards (NACA), annual awards for literature, performing arts, music, crafts, and cinema are supported by the Ministry of Culture and widely publicized.

The systems of "secret societies" of Poro (men) and Sande (women), ritual dances and initiations, wood carvings (masks), bright clothes are preserved. There are 16+ ethnic groups in the country: Temne, Mende, Loko, Limba, Creoles, etc., Cryo is the lingua franca of the country.

Multilingualism (17 languages are officially recognized), programs for ethnic minorities, ethno-cultural festivals, and support for traditions in education and through local administrations are funded. 1 new UNESCO site, +4 in the preliminary list; dozens of regional museums, cultural centers and local monuments, national parks, memorial sites.

Golatiwai is the result of international programs (RSPB, Cambridge Conservation); Sierra Leone Arts & Culture Festival, exhibitions, exchanges with the UK, support for cultural tourism, pan-African initiatives.

Golativai is a brand of national and international importance, traditional carving techniques, crafts and ritual masks have a protected status; the elements are included in the UNESCO registers of intangible and tangible heritage.

The local cuisine is known for dishes made from rice, peanuts, fish, chili, vegetable sauces, fufu; a wealth of recipes from each ethnic group; spices and seafood are widely used; culinary festivals are celebrated. It is estimated that at least 65-75% of residents are involved in mass celebrations, family initiations, and social rituals; traditional dancing, music, and folklore are part of the daily lives of 80% of the population.

Data completeness assessment: basic indicators are available in UNESCO and national statistics, coverage is 90%.

Cognitive sovereignty — 41.2

Official HDI index: 0.467 (2023/2024), 185th place in the world, “low level” according to the UN classification, the dynamics is stable, the improvement has slowed down. Education expenditures account for 20-29% of the total state budget (various sources), in 2023-2024 — about 20% (NLe 3.4 billion), previously reached 29.4% (2022), one of the highest shares in the region. Overall adult literacy rate (2024): 48.6% (men — 58.7%, women — 37.7%).

Youth literacy (15-24 years old): 67.6%. The country does not participate in international PISA tests, and there are no official comparative data.

Approximately 13-15% of university graduates are in STEM (precision, medical, and engineering specialties); the majority of students are in pedagogy, humanities, and social sciences. About 25-30% of master's and specialty programs are implemented jointly with foreign universities or with the support of GPE, the British Council, USAID.

There are 17 official languages, all recognized in the school system, cultural policy is aimed at integrating ethnic customs into education and popular culture; separate support programs are being developed for ethnic minorities.

About 2 national universities with research laboratories (University of Sierra Leone, Njala University) and several specialized state scientific institutes. National ~10%, the majority of remote, digital and hybrid programs are deployed on the basis of international platforms with adaptation to local needs.

There are national competitions, scholarships are distributed (coverage is up to 2,500-3,000 young people per year), grants are being implemented for talented teachers, researchers, and young scientists.

Data completeness assessment: education indicators are available in the UNDP, UNESCO, OECD, coverage is 93%.

Military sovereignty — 29.6

Defense spending: 0.56% of GDP in 2023-2025; one of the lowest rates in Africa, the absolute military budget for 2025 is approximately 36-37 million US dollars. The active composition of the armed forces: 8,500-13,000 (data vary: 8,500/9,000 — World Bank, 13,000 - Global Firepower/Military Power Rankings); about 2,000 reservists and 3,000 semi-police units (maximum mobilization).

The main armament is light infantry, several dozen armored vehicles and artillery cannons, light patrol boats (up to 4), the air force is represented by training and transport aircraft, there are no combat aircraft, missiles and heavy systems.

Almost all equipment and weapons are imported, the largest supplies are China, the United States, Great Britain, donor supplies of armored vehicles and boats; there is no own production. Physical controls are weak, especially on the border with Guinea and Liberia, the problem of illegal trafficking in weapons, drugs, and people persists; strategic gaps and dangers in border management are noted.

There are about 2,000 reservists, and there is a mobilization “potential base” of up to 3,000 people (police units, volunteers). Key decisions are made independently, but much of the preparation, reforms and operations are carried out with the support of the United Kingdom (IMATT, Peacekeeping), as well as in coordination with the United Nations and ECOWAS.

It does not exist: there is no full production cycle, heavy enterprises or military design bureaus; only repairs, warehouses, and local assembly of weapons under the supervision of foreign instructors. There are no nuclear weapons; the country is completely non-nuclear and does not participate in nuclear or missile programs.

There is no military space program, classical intelligence is a military intelligence unit within the army structure, there is no technical and space autonomy.

All parameters are reflected in the annual reports of SIPRI, UNODA, the Ministry of Defense, the official portals of state-owned companies (Embraer, IMBEL) and the UN/NGO industry databases — 88% coverage

Final Summary Table

The main conclusions

Strengths. Political stability and peace: Sierra Leone is among the top 5 most stable and peaceful countries in West Africa, has successfully overcome the period of war, holds peaceful elections and demonstrates a stable situation.

Cultural autonomy and ethnic diversity: A UNESCO site (Gola-Tiwai Complex) is registered in the country, there is a strong identity (17+ languages, preservation of traditions, ritual societies, vibrant gastronomy, large-scale involvement of the population in culture).

Measures for the integration of small nations: educational and cultural programs for ethnic and linguistic minorities are officially supported, and local languages are used in schools.

Export diversification: The country has a unique base — diamonds (63% of exports), cocoa, minerals, which creates a resource potential for sustainable development.

Effective and relatively open education: The state allocates 20-29% of the budget to education, one of the highest proportions in the region, and there are scholarship and grant programs for talents.

Weaknesses. Low level of human development: The HDI is 0.467 (ranked 185 in the world), the overall literacy rate is only 48.6%, and there is a strong gender gap in education. Technological and digital independence is limited: Import dependence on high-tech, software and equipment is absolute, there are no industrial and robotic developments of their own, Internet penetration is less than 21%, digitalization of public services is limited.

Financial and currency vulnerability: High trade and current account deficits (the current account is minus 3.8% of GDP in 2024), low gold and foreign exchange reserves (just over a month of import coverage).

Economic instability: Debt — 44% of GDP, active import of food and machinery, limited own payment and credit policies (regional integration of BCEAO, weak control over the national currency).

The weakness of military autonomy: Low defense spending (<0.6% of GDP), the armed forces are equipped mainly with light equipment, there is no national military-industrial complex, border control is weak, and dependence on foreign military aid.

Low transparency of intelligence agencies and limited control over security: Intelligence agencies operate outside oversight mechanisms, and cooperation with international structures partially compensates for the lack of transparency.

Overall assessment. The cumulative sovereignty index of Sierra Leone is 286.8 out of 700 points (average 41%), which places the country in the 157th place in the world top.

Sierra Leone is a country with rapidly growing political stability, strong cultural autonomy, unique ethnic diversity and large-scale educational initiatives, which forms the basis for long-term sovereignty.

However, deep economic, budgetary and technological dependence, low quality of human capital and insufficient defense autonomy limit real managerial independence. Increasing sovereignty will be possible through economic diversification, systemic digitalization, deepening educational and scientific reforms, and developing its own techno-infrastructure.

The sovereignty profile indicates that Sierra Leone has increased political stability, international legitimacy, and cultural "soft power," but real autonomy is limited by weak managerial efficiency, low human capital, high import dependence, and a modest defense base.

Priorities for strengthening sovereignty include accelerating digitalization and personnel reforms, strengthening the revenue base and reserves, national projects on border infrastructure and basic industrialization, as well as targeted development of applied research and development in conjunction with resource clusters.