Africell Takes Over Sierratel …$6.3M Debt Crisis

The government has defended its decision to approve Africell Sierra Leone as a strategic partner in the restructuring and relaunch of the state-owned telecom company, Sierratel, describing the move as a necessary intervention to restore financial stability and operational efficiency.
Speaking at the Ministry of Information and Civic Education’s weekly press conference held at the Miata Conference Hall in Freetown on 21 April, the Minister of Communication, Technology and Innovation, Salima Monorma Bah, said the Cabinet-approved arrangement is aimed at repositioning Sierratel under a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) model.
Under this model, Sierratel will deliver telecom services using existing infrastructure while benefiting from Africell’s technical and operational support to improve service delivery and efficiency.
Minister Bah disclosed that Africell will provide an initial $2 million financial injection to address urgent obligations, including salary arrears and staff benefits, describing it as a “critical bridge” to restore confidence within the institution.
The intervention comes as Sierratel faces mounting financial difficulties, with staff salary arrears previously estimated at Le326 million and total liabilities now rising to about $6.3 million.
Government officials attributed the crisis to accumulated debt and long-standing operational inefficiencies, which they said had weakened the company’s performance and necessitated urgent restructuring.
Minister Bah stressed that the agreement does not amount to privatization, but rather a strategic relaunch designed to preserve Sierratel’s national mandate while modernizing its operations and improving competitiveness in the telecom sector.
She added that the broader reform agenda for state-owned enterprises is focused on attracting investment, reducing liabilities, and strengthening service delivery, with Sierratel identified as a priority case.
While the government has presented the partnership as a recovery pathway, stakeholders note that its success will depend on effective implementation, transparency, and the ability to ensure long-term sustainability.