Sierra Leone is facing potential financial setbacks following the European Union’s decision to stop aid to the country in response to President Bio’s refusal to extradite Dutch fugitive Jos Leijdekkers. The EU made the announcement this week, highlighting concerns over Leijdekkers, who was sentenced to 24 years in absentia for cocaine trafficking and murder by a Dutch court in June 2024.
Leijdekkers, known as Bolle Jos, is close to President Bio, having married the President’s daughter and settled in Sierra Leone. Dutch Justice Minister David van Weel stated that the halt in aid is effective immediately, as the Sierra Leonean government has not cooperated in his extradition. “It is deeply galling that EU funds are going to a country refusing to cooperate with the extradition of someone like Bolle Jos,” Van Weel commented.
Earlier this year, Van Weel advocated for EU members to freeze development aid, emphasising that Leijdekkers’ continued presence in Sierra Leone is detrimental to the country. The EU had planned to allocate €325 million to Sierra Leone for 2021 to 2027 and was expected to send €18 million this year, with a further €20.5 million earmarked for next year. However, the remainder of this year’s funds will now be withheld, with no decisions made regarding next year’s allocations.
Leijdekkers, who has been wanted in the Netherlands since 2022, is also implicated in a separate case involving an 11-tonne cocaine shipment to Belgium, valued at €550 million. The Sierra Leonean Ministry of Information confirmed it has been informed of the EU’s decision to stop aid.
The EU’s aid cuts could significantly impact Sierra Leone’s economy and international standing as the country grapples with its involvement in global drug trafficking networks.
