Sierra Leone has signed a medical evacuation agreement with the Dominican Republic to aid the planned deployment of its armed forces to Haiti.
The Memorandum of Understanding was signed on Friday, 11 September 2026, by Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to the United States, Amara Sowa. This agreement ensures medical evacuation and repatriation support for members of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) involved in a United Nations-backed security mission in Haiti.
Given the risks of emergencies or casualties during operations of the Gang Suppression Force (GSF), the Dominican Republic will act as a vital transit point for the RSLAF. It will facilitate emergency medical evacuations, assist in repatriating injured or deceased troops, and coordinate necessary protocols.
The agreement lays the groundwork for deploying 300 Sierra Leonean personnel by the end of 2026, including a 150-member Special Forces Company and a 150-member Border Control Company.
This medical agreement follows prior financial and logistical discussions held by Sierra Leone’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York from 8 to 10 June 2026. During that time, Deputy Minister of Finance Kadiatu Allie led a delegation in negotiations with the United Nations Support Operations in Haiti regarding reimbursements for equipment used by RSLAF units.
Securing this medical evacuation agreement is expected to accelerate the remaining deployment processes. Before deployment can proceed, Sierra Leone’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Dr Michael Imran Kanu, is set to sign two additional protocols.
