Ishmael Bayoh, Information Attaché, Sierra Leone Embassy Dakar, Senegal
The Ministries of Public Administration and Political Affairs (MoPAPA) and Lands, Housing and Country Planning (MLHCP), on behalf of the Government of Sierra Leone, on Friday, June 5th, 2026, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with SO.AFRI.LOGE for the development of a social housing programme with a mortgage mechanism for civil servants in Sierra Leone.
The MoU signing was done at the Sierra Leone Embassy in Dakar, Senegal, as this housing investment is facilitated by the embassy, where the ambassador, His Excellency Ibrahim Turay, has pursued economic diplomacy, attracting direct investment in Sierra Leone.
Its main objective is to establish a framework for cooperation between MoPAPA, MLHCP and SO. AFRI.LOGE for the planning, financing, building and implementation of affordable housing programmes and mortgage mechanisms for civil servants in Sierra Leone.
These came as the government of Sierra Leone is undertaking comprehensive public sector reforms aimed at improving the well-being, motivation and productivity of public servants through strategic interventions in social protection and housing.
SO. AFRI.LOGE is a Malian company with technical expertise, investment capacity and experience in developing affordable housing and mortgage financing mechanisms in West Africa.
In his statement during the signing ceremony, Sierra Leone’s ambassador to Senegal, Mr Ibrahim Turay, expressed his appreciation to both the ministers of land and housing and the public administration for their tremendous intervention that led to the signing. He said in his economic diplomacy pursuit he was able to convince investors to invest back in Sierra Leone in line with President Julius Maada Bio’s foreign policy agenda. He disclosed that during preparatory stages when he took the company to Sierra Leone, it was registered as SO.AFRI.LOGE (SL) Limited.
The Minister of Public Administration and Political Affairs, Hon. Amara Kallon, said the housing project comes as the government of President Julius Maada Bio is undertaking comprehensive public sector reforms aimed at improving the well-being, motivation and productivity of public servants through strategic interventions in social protection and housing schemes for civil servants. The minister narrated that what they went through when he was a civil servant in terms of housing could not be the same for those serving in this housing project.
Expressing his support, the minister of lands, housing and country planning, Hon. Dr Turad Senesie, was pleased to have travelled with his delegation to Dakar for such a project. He noted that it would alleviate the suffering of civil servants when completed. He assured the company of his ministry’s fullest support and also encouraged them that Sierra Leone has a flexible tax regime beneficial to companies.
Both the company representatives of Niby Investments and SO.AFRI.LOGE, Mr Mahamane Baba Maiga and Mr Bathily, confidently expressed their happiness to invest in Sierra Leone, like the housing projects they are currently undertaking in Senegal.
In the MoU, the company is to develop architectural plans, construction plans and financial models and mobilise the investments and technical resources necessary for the implementation of the project. They are to build 22,000 social housing units in phases to be defined by the Parties, ensure compliance with applicable building standards and environmental regulations and facilitate the transfer of technologies and skills to Sierra Leonean professionals.
On the other hand, both the Ministries of Public Administration and Political Affairs and Lands, Housing and Country Planning commit to facilitating coordination with the relevant ministries, departments and agencies. They will support the alignment of public policies and administrative approvals necessary for the implementation of the project as well as facilitate exchanges with civil service unions, housing authorities and pension institutions.
A Joint Technical Committee will be established responsible for overseeing the implementation, coordination, monitoring and evaluation of the activities planned under the MoU. A detailed implementation plan, including timelines, financing arrangements and project phases, will be jointly developed within ninety (90) days of the signing of this MoU.
