Relationship dossier
Sierra Leone
United Kingdom
Relationship assessment
A close partnership shaped by UK intervention during Sierra Leone’s civil war and sustained security and development cooperation
Sierra Leone toward United Kingdom
+30During the 2000 civil war, Sierra Leone's government worked with the United Kingdom as British forces intervened to support stabilization. Sierra Leone has also engaged in continuing bilateral security and development cooperation with the UK.
United Kingdom toward Sierra Leone
+50The United Kingdom deployed forces to Sierra Leone during the 2000 civil war, helping stabilize the country and protect the elected government. The UK has continued to support Sierra Leone through security-sector assistance and development cooperation.
Overall relationship
+45The relationship has developed from colonial rule into a substantial post-independence partnership. UK military action during Sierra Leone's 2000 civil war and continuing security and development cooperation are defining features; no major sustained bilateral confrontation shapes the relationship.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
The relationship combines Sierra Leone's colonial history with substantial post-independence security and development cooperation. During the 2000 civil war, Sierra Leone's government worked with the United Kingdom, whose military intervention helped stabilize the country. Subsequent UK support for security-sector reform and development has sustained a close bilateral partnership.
Key developments
British forces intervened during Sierra Leone's civil war, supporting stabilization and the elected government.
The United Kingdom continued security-sector assistance and development cooperation with Sierra Leone after the civil war.
Major uncertainties
- The scope and current implementation of bilateral security and development arrangements are unclear.
- The extent of recent Sierra Leonean government initiatives specifically directed toward the United Kingdom is unclear.