Sierra Leone’s Feed Salone agriculture program supported more than 22,000 direct and indirect jobs in its third year, while the share of households facing severe food insecurity fell to 13% in July 2025 from 28% in September 2023, President Julius Maada Bio said on October 22 at the launch of the program’s third-year report in Magburaka, Sierraloaded and The Calabash reported.
Analysis: Officials said rice self-sufficiency rose to 73% in 2025 from 68% in 2023, indicating that imports still cover roughly one-quarter of national consumption. Continued domestic production gains could affect rice importers and create opportunities for millers. But the results come from speeches, and the underlying report tables have not been published online. The 22,000-job figure also does not distinguish temporary and permanent positions. The agriculture minister said the fourth year would focus on completing irrigation and rice-processing facilities at Tormabum and Gbondapi, but provided no delivery dates.
Source: Sierraloaded, Sierraloaded, 'President Bio Launches Feed Salone Third-Year Report' (23 Oct 2026), Feed Salone year three (to 2026); Sierraloaded, Sierraloaded (23 Oct 2026), July 2025 and September 2023 and Academic year 2025/26; Premier Media, Vice President's remarks at MITA 2026, Freetown (19 October 2026), as reported by Premier News, 2025 and 2023
Sierra Leone will host the West Africa Integration and Investment Summit in mid-November, with five to seven heads of state expected, special envoy Kandeh Yumkella said at the launch of the summit’s media campaign in Freetown, Sierraloaded and The Calabash reported on October 22 and 23. Gento Group’s proposed ports at Kent and Banana Island and the $417mn Nant power plant are among the projects in the summit’s deal rooms.
Analysis: Officials describe the event as an investment conference, not a pledging exercise, making signed financing for projects a more useful measure of its outcome than headline commitments. The proposed Kent port still faces outstanding development steps, while the Nant plant has already secured a U.S. development loan covering about 70% of its $417mn cost. Published accounts disagree over the summit's location and dates, listing November 16-18 at Lungi or November 17-18 in Freetown. No final program or list of projects has been published, limiting expectations about which financing decisions may be reached.
Source: Sierraloaded, Sierraloaded, 'Sierra Leone to Host Dangote, Elumelu and Seven Heads of State at WAIIS' (22 Oct 2026), November 2026; Sierraloaded, Nant Power Project briefing to the President (16 October 2026), as reported by Sierraloaded, October 2026
Sierra Leone’s labor ministry said it would work with the union to secure workers’ legal entitlements after iron ore producer Marampa Mines announced a temporary shutdown, in a public notice dated October 26 reported by Sierraloaded. The company, which employs about 4,200 people, was preparing in early October to cut about 925 jobs, or 22% of its workforce, Sierraloaded reported, citing unnamed sources; the company did not confirm the figure.
Analysis: The suspension goes beyond Marampa's September 22 announcement of a restructuring that would initially affect senior and expatriate staff. A full halt could create wage and severance liabilities while reducing business for suppliers, contractors and transport firms serving the Port Loko operation. However, neither Marampa nor the mining authorities have disclosed the shutdown's expected duration. The company has issued no press release since April, and the labor ministry has not set a date for discussions with management. Workers and creditors therefore face uncertainty about payment and resumption of operations.
Source: Sierraloaded, Sierraloaded, 'Over 900 Sierra Leoneans May Lose Jobs as Marampa Mines Begins Restructuring' (5 Oct 2026), October 2026; Sierraloaded, Sierraloaded (5 Oct 2026), October 2026; Premier Media, Government statement on new pump prices (September 2026), as published by Premier News, From early September 2026; Premier Media, Government announcement of new pump prices, as reported by Premier News, To 2 August 2026
Marampa Mines has notified Sierra Leone's minister of mines that it plans to suspend operations temporarily, citing difficult market conditions, high freight and operating costs, and limited fuel supplies, the company told employees in an internal message reported by Sierraloaded on October 22. A minimum workforce will remain to protect the mining license and maintain the site.
Analysis: Diesel prices rose 29% to 45 SLE (€1.76) per liter after two increases since early August. Marampa says expensive fuel has constrained its purchases, contributing to its planned shutdown. A prolonged halt could reduce mineral exports and related royalties and transport income, while weakening demand for suppliers and contractors. The company has not given an end date and says shutdown plans are still being finalized. In an October 26 notice, the labor ministry said it was working with the union to protect workers' legal entitlements, according to Sierraloaded. The timetable for resuming production remains unknown.
Source: Premier Media, Government statement on new pump prices (September 2026), as published by Premier News, From early September 2026; Premier Media, Government announcement of new pump prices, as reported by Premier News, To 2 August 2026; Bank of Sierra Leone, BSL Indicative Exchange Rates 26-10-2026 (reference rates), 26 October 2026
Cement maker ROCKCEM (SL) Ltd has raised its planned investment in Sierra Leone to about $60mn, citing inflation and higher equipment costs, and expects to open a warehouse at Songo, outside Freetown, in November, The Calabash reported on October 5 and 26, citing the company. Its new grinding mill is designed to pack more than 60,000 bags of 50 kilograms a day, or 3,000 metric tons.
Analysis: The mill could pack about 3,000 tons of cement per day at full capacity, potentially expanding supply beyond Freetown. ROCKCEM says a proposed Songo depot will allow provincial dealers to collect cement without traveling to the capital, saving fuel and transport expenses after diesel prices rose 29% since early August. Those benefits depend on the facility opening and running as planned. The company's claims were reported in promotional coverage, and it has not disclosed previous investment plans, expected selling prices or when full production will be reached. The depot opening planned for November will offer an initial test.
Source: The Calabash, The Calabash, 'With US$60 Million Expansion... ROCKCEM Songo Warehouse Set for November Opening' (5 Oct 2026), October 2026; The Calabash, The Calabash (5 Oct 2026; repeated 26 Oct 2026), October 2026; The Calabash, The Calabash (26 Oct 2026), November 2026; Premier Media, Government statement on new pump prices (September 2026), as published by Premier News, From early September 2026; Premier Media, Government announcement of new pump prices, as reported by Premier News, To 2 August 2026
Chart of the week
Sierra Leone consumer price inflation, % year on year, September 2025–August 2026
National consumer price index from the statistics agency Stats SL; March and June 2026 are the Stats SL rates as given in the Bank of Sierra Leone's September policy statement. Stats SL had not published September 2026 by October 28. The week's lead number, Feed Salone jobs, is a single reading, so the chart shows inflation, the subject of this week's deep dive.. Source: Statistics Sierra Leone (Stats SL), Stats SL, Consumer Price Index Press Release August 2026, September 2025 and October 2025 and November 2025 and December 2025 and January 2026 and February 2026 and April 2026 and May 2026 and July 2026 and August 2026; Bank of Sierra Leone, BSL Monetary Policy Statement, September 2026 (scanned PDF, read by OCR), March 2026 and June 2026.
Tender of the week
Medical equipment for hospitals and health hubs in four districts
Buyer
Ministry of Health, Integrated Health Projects Administration Unit (IHPAU)
Scope
Supply of stethoscopes, thermometers, blood pressure apparatus, adult scales, hospital beds, pillows and other items for hospitals and spoke facilities in Falaba, Western Rural, Bonthe and Tonkolili districts, delivered within 120 days to the National Medical Supplies Agency stores in Freetown; international competitive bidding, two-envelope process, rated criteria weighted 20% and price 80%.
Value
Not published
Funding
World Bank (IDA-D9380, TF-C8629, TF-B7266), Quality Essential Health Services and Systems Support Project (P172102)
Closes
Friday, November 13, 2026
Alama Pro members get the link to the official notice for this and every other tender.
In Alama Pro this week
Deep dive: Sierra Leone's inflation surge and the central bank's limited rate response
12 signals with workings, from eight areas: farming, projects and infrastructure, mining, construction, telecoms, regulation, tourism, and macro and prices
Five trackers, from inflation and the policy rate to Treasury bill yields and the leone, the tender of the week and every open tender we follow, with deadlines
