2026 New Year’s Day Presidential Address by President Julius Maada Bio
President Julius Maada Bio has ushered in 2026 with a call for resilience and accountability, terming the new year a “turning point” for Sierra Leone as his administration shifts focus from economic stabilization to delivering tangible results.
In his New Year’s Day National Address delivered on Thursday, President Bio cautioned citizens that 2026 would not be a year for “easy words or quick assurances,” but rather a “Year of Action” where government plans must translate into real improvements in daily life.
Economy and “Feed Salone” Acknowledging the global economic pressures of high living costs and tight fiscal space, the President emphasized that his government would avoid “quick fixes” that might offer short-term relief but create deeper problems later. He stated that the administration would continue to manage public finances carefully and live within its means.
“We have worked to stabilise our nation; now we must use that stability to deliver results,” Bio said.
Central to this agenda is the “Feed Salone” programme, which remains the administration’s top priority. The President stressed that a country unable to feed itself remains vulnerable, pledging continued support for farmers through better inputs, equipment, and transportation to protect families from high food prices.
War on “Kush”
Addressing the social challenges facing the nation, President Bio took a firm stance on the drug crisis, specifically mentioning the synthetic drug “Kush,” which he noted continues to damage lives and communities.
“My Government will remain firm in its fight against drugs and substance abuse. Those who produce, sell, or profit from drugs will face the full force of the law,” he warned, while also promising to strengthen rehabilitation services for victims. He appealed directly to the youth, declaring, “There is no future in addiction”.
Political Stability and 2028 Elections
Looking ahead to the political landscape, President Bio touched on the preparations for the 2028 General Elections. He reaffirmed his commitment to implementing the recommendations of the Tripartite Agreement, calling these reforms essential for restoring confidence in the electoral process.
He urged political actors to act responsibly, warning that political competition must never undermine peace or disrupt public services.
The President concluded with a call for unity, urging Sierra Leoneans to place the national interest above all else and to work with integrity to build a stable future.
NEW YEAR’S DAY NATIONAL ADDRESS BY HIS EXCELLENCY DR JULIUS MAADA BIO PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SIERRA LEONE THURSDAY, 1ST JANUARY 2026
FELLOW SIERRA LEONEANS,
I wish you a peaceful and purposeful New Year, wherever you may be, at home or abroad.
I thank the Almighty God Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) for granting us life and bringing us to the beginning of this New Year.
For many families, 2026 has begun with concern, but also with hope. Hope that things will continue to improve.
I want to thank every Sierra Leonean for your patience, resilience, and sense of responsibility over the years.
Your endurance has mattered, and it has helped keep our country steady during difficult times.
As we enter 2026, I speak to you with a strong sense of duty and with confidence in the direction our country is moving.
This is not a year for easy words or quick assurances.
It is a year that requires steady leadership, careful decisions, and a shared effort from all of us.
I am encouraged that we begin this year more stable than before. Clearer about our challenges and more realistic about the choices we must make.
The task before our Government is not to promise more, but to ensure that what we do delivers results that people can recognise in their daily lives.
As President, I am clear about what you should expect from your Government: honesty about our challenges, careful use of public resources, respect for the law and institutions that serve the national interest.
I feel the weight of this responsibility every day, because the decisions we take affect families, jobs, and the future of our children.
But national progress does not depend on the Government alone.
It also depends on how we behave as citizens—how public servants do their work, how businesses operate, how communities resolve problems, and how we treat one another, especially in difficult times.
Change takes time, patience and cooperation from all of us. This understanding must guide us throughout 2026.
https://sierraloaded.sl/news/president-bio-declares-2026-year-of-action/