EU Commissioner Explains Reason for Sierra Leone $18M Aid Suspension

European Union Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner has clarified that the suspension of an estimated $18 million in EU budget support to Sierra Leone was due to technical reasons and was not linked to allegations that the country is harbouring fugitive Dutch drug trafficker Jos Leijdekkers.

Brunner made the clarification during a press briefing in Luxembourg on Thursday following a meeting of EU Justice and Home Affairs ministers, where discussions focused on migration, drug trafficking, organised crime and wider security challenges facing the European Union.

The Commissioner acknowledged growing concerns within the EU over organised crime and drug trafficking trends in Sierra Leone but said those concerns should not be conflated with the suspension of financial assistance.