The Request alleges that the World Bank–financed Sierra Leone Economic Diversification Project in Sierra Leone violated the Bank’s environmental and social safeguard policies. The Requesters report that in February 2025, security forces, accompanied by government officials, demolished the Requesters’ residence and another additional structure under construction, without prior resettlement procedures being put in place, and without stakeholder engagement, or compensation. They state that an official account of the incident was posted online on a government website, which however was later retracted.
The Request claims that government authorities bypassed required procedures during the grant application, failed to disclose planned land acquisition, and did not adopt a resettlement action plan, leading to alleged unlawful property destruction affecting many citizens. According to the Request, the demolitions were intended to facilitate construction of new tourism-related facilities supporting wildlife conservation. After the incident, a government ministry issued a press release inviting people with legitimate claims to submit documentation for verification. The Request also claims that the Project’s grievance redress mechanism did not function effectively.
The Request is asking for an independent investigation by the Inspection Panel, emphasizing the need to uphold principles of fairness, accountability, and human rights, and to ensure due process and accountability in project implementation.
The Panel met with the Requesters on February 17 and March 24, 2026, as well as with Bank Management on March 13, 2026, and based on a review of the Project’s ESIA and other related Project documents, the Panel considered that the issues raised in the Request are not related to the Bank-financed Project as required by paragraph 14(b) of the Panel’s Operating Procedures. The Panel issued a Notice of Non-Registration. Panel's non-registration does not preclude a future Request for Inspection related to this Project.
