The Biden administration is reportedly urging Sierra Leone’s parliament to pass a controversial pro-abortion bill, with warnings that failure to do so could jeopardize critical U.S. foreign aid, according to reports from former U.S. officials and local NGOs.
At the center of the dispute is the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), a U.S. foreign aid agency, which has tied its $480 million compact with Sierra Leone to the passage of the proposed “Safe Motherhood Act.” This legislation seeks to decriminalize abortion and allow it up to 14 weeks for any reason, and up to birth in cases involving a woman’s mental health. Abortion to save a woman’s life is already legal in Sierra Leone.
Critics, including religious leaders and pro-life groups in Sierra Leone, say the bill contradicts the values of the majority-Muslim and Christian population.
Meanwhile, U.S. Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) has condemned the Biden administration’s approach as “pro-abortion bullying tactics” and an attempt at “ideological colonialism.”
Smith further alleged that the administration’s move undermines Sierra Leone’s sovereignty by coercing its lawmakers with the threat of withdrawing much-needed aid.
“Pro-life countries should be celebrated and respected for protecting unborn children and their mothers—not penalized by a pro-abortion, lame-duck administration,” Smith said in a statement.
The Millennium Challenge Corporation, which supports initiatives to improve electricity and economic development in Sierra Leone, has not responded to requests for comment.
Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio and his government have expressed support for the bill, with the Ministry of Information holding discussions to promote the legislation. However, the proposal has sparked significant local and international backlash.
The push for the bill comes just weeks before U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s second term begins. Trump, who previously prioritized pro-life policies, introduced the Geneva Consensus Declaration, which affirms that abortion is not an international right. The Biden administration had withdrawn the U.S. from this agreement, but Trump has pledged to rejoin it.
Religious leaders in Sierra Leone and many citizens view the legislation as an imposition of foreign values.
“It’s a direct challenge to our beliefs and our constitution,” said a Sierra Leonean NGO leader, emphasizing the widespread opposition among locals.
The situation has heightened tensions over the role of foreign aid in shaping domestic policies in Africa. Critics argue that tying aid to ideological conditions undermines trust and sovereignty. Pro-life advocates have vowed to continue opposing the bill and urging the Sierra Leonean government to reject foreign pressures.
As the debate unfolds, the potential consequences for Sierra Leone are stark: the loss of significant U.S. funding, but also a decision that could define the country’s stance on deeply polarizing global issues.
The whole thing about the abortion bill is about the Bio illegal administration seeking for fund from the American government, more especially the MCC fund $480 000, because as it’s now his government is not getting aids any more,so he and the opposition are now working in consonant to gain that amount. When it comes in terms of money the opposition can do all kind of dirty games but to stand up for an Election results they won they have not the energy. I sending this message to the religious bodies in Sierra Leone, The Ach Bishop Cole , the Bishop Tamba Charles, an operative for Mada Bio the Bishop Abu Koroma the Pastor Mambu and others , the Muslim Sheik s and Imams if you sit bye and allow that Abortion Bill which have been smuggled by Bio and the ruthless opposition in parliament on the seventh of December 2024, God will hold you responsible , because you are the watchmen of that country, don’t sit down and see wrong things going on in that nation, the Bible and Quran are not the materials you should be reading but other materials like your constitution, news papers and more beneficial materials that will help boost your knowledge about your country. Daniel in the bible was an Administrator in Babylon which is present day Iraq,he serves four governments; the king Nebuchadnezzar ‘s government, Belshazzar ‘s government which was the son of Nebuchadnezzar, king Curious and Darius ,he served four successive government but he never down play his integrity, my humble please here you are stakeholders of that country. In the Peace Accord to end the eleven years brutal war in Sierra Leone the religious bodies were called up on in Yanmasocro Peace Accord. Now prevent another pandemonium from happening in Sierra Leone, you must not allow the abortion bill to be passed in parliament, and you must ask the ECSL to provide the comprehensive election results for June24 2023. You should adjutate for a position in the house of representatives to check and balance some of these bad laws that aren’t in favour of the people. In France when the prime minister try to pass a budget bill that was not in favour of the people who are the majority,they toppled him out of power, Inter religious bodies in Sierra Leone the destiny of Sierra Leone is equally in your hands, it is a negligent to your path and a disgrace if you sit bye and don’t solve the problems of that country called Sierra Leone, beware if you fail to correct the wrongs in that country, there will be a time you will be forced to come out and demonstrate for the right things, their are laws in the making, in the figment of that government that will surprise you soon, a case study of those laws have been piloted by NRA of Sierra Leone, sooner or later religious bodies will begin to pay tax from what they generating from their place of worship in that country.The task is in your hands do the right thing so that Sierra Leone would be saved from the hands of the wickeds in that country. I rest my case.
Sierra Leone is on a time bomb for the June24 2023 Election, the government of unity they signed in Sierra Leone doesn’t captured the mind of the people of Sierra Leone, the signing is between a fraction of the executive of the executive if the opposition of APC and the illegal Bio administration, even the European union, the Commonwealth,the Cartha’s House and the American Embassador Briant Hunt said there is no results for the June24 2023 election, so the ECOWAS don’t do their assignment well instead them going to the bottom of the problems of Sierra Leone they just delve at the top , you better go do your assignment properly orderwise be ready to send Ecomog force in that country, the killing of innocent people in that country, extrajudicial killing that are still going on, ECOWAS don’t let the SLPP government outsmart otherwise you’ll be held responsible, reviewing the deployment article by the government of Sierra Leone is a ploy to waist time, send your forces now in Sierra Leone before you lose another nation in West Africa.