Sierra Leone must confirm to the IMF in writing by the end of November that its customs service alone will inspect, classify and value imports at destination from February 1, 2027, under a benchmark set in its July program memorandum. Customs and excise receipts reached 2.71bn SLE (€106mn) in the first nine months, 49.4% of the annual budget target.
Analysis: The benchmark addresses the revenue category furthest behind schedule. Customs had collected less than half its annual target by September, against about two-thirds for revenue overall. The government tied the change to risks identified in a governance and corruption diagnostic. Bringing inspection in-house would give customs direct control of the values that set import duties. For importers and clearing agents, the change could alter who inspects cargo and how valuations are challenged. However, the memorandum does not say who performs the work now. The IMF's fourth review, available from November 15, should report on progress.
Source: International Monetary Fund, IMF Country Report No. 26/168, MEFP ¶12 and Table 2 (SB13), From February 1, 2027 (benchmark due end-November 2026); Ministry of Finance, Sierra Leone, Ministry of Finance, Statement of Fiscal Operations (Consolidated Fund) for the month ended 30th September 2026 (The Fiscal Report for September 2026), January-September 2026 and FY2026 (budget column); International Monetary Fund, IMF Country Report No. 26/168, Table 7 (Schedule of Disbursements Under the ECF Arrangement, 2024-27), Available from November 15, 2026