The European Commission has suspended €18 million ($21 million) of 2026 budget support to Sierra Leone because Freetown has not extradited Jos Leijdekkers, a Dutch cocaine trafficker convicted in the Netherlands and Belgium, Dutch Justice Minister David van Weel said on 1 October. About $26 million planned for 2027 could also be withheld. EU Commissioner Magnus Brunner said a day later that the suspension was due to “technical reasons”, and Information Minister Chernor Bah blamed procedural issues with a financing agreement. If confirmed, tying EU budget support to a single criminal case would set a precedent for other aid recipients. Watch whether Freetown arrests Leijdekkers, who is believed to have lived there since 2023.
Sources
- Reuters via Global Banking & Finance: https://www.globalbankingandfinance.com/eu-cuts-aid-sierra-leone-over-help-convicted-cocaine-kingpin/
- Brussels Signal: https://brusselssignal.eu/2026/10/eu-halts-millions-in-budget-support-to-sierra-leone-over-fugitive-dutch-drug-lord/
- VRT NWS: https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2026/10/01/eu-stopt-steun-aan-sierra-leone-omdat-het-niet-meewerkt-aan-uitl/
- GhanaWeb: https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/EU-suspends-18-million-aid-to-Sierra-Leone-over-Bolle-Jos-2054875
- Sierra Leone Monitor: https://www.sierraleonemonitor.com/eu-budget-suspension-sierra-leone/
Updated 5 October to include the European Commission’s explanation.