Jump to navigation

Vol 5 (AAC) No 12

Published 1st October 2012


Sierra Leone

The President’s new partners

Just before elections, President Koroma has signed several multimillion-dollar secret contracts with a troubled Hong Kong conglomerate

China International Fund, a Hong Kong-based outfit which works closely with Beijing’s state corporations, will become one of the Freetown government’s most privileged business partners following the signing in September of mining, building and land-lease contracts worth many hundreds of millions of dollars. President Ernest Bai Koroma’s signing of the contracts with CIF, which has a reputation for opacity and poor delivery in its African operations, so close to the 17 November elections will inevitably raise questions about the motives for the secret deals.

End of preview - This article contains approximately 1552 words.

End of preview

Subscribers: Log in now to read the complete article.

Account Holders: Log in now and use your Account Credit to buy this article. No Credit? Top up your Account now.


If you are logged in, but still cannot access the full text of this article, email customer services or telephone us on +44(0)1638 743633.