By Fatima Kpaka
August 26, 2026: Sierra Leone has unveiled draft protection plans to safeguard the digital systems powering the nation’s energy, health, education, and defence sectors, marking a major step in its National Digital Transformation Agenda.
The National Cyber Security Coordination Centre (NC3) and the Ministry of Communication, Technology and Innovation, with support from the World Bank and technical input from KPMG, presented the sector‑specific Critical Information Infrastructure (CII) Protection Plans at a stakeholder validation workshop held at NatCA Tower, South Ridge, IMATT.
The plans identify essential services, map risks and vulnerabilities, set minimum cybersecurity baselines, and define governance structures from national oversight down to day‑to‑day operators. They build on the first phase completed in 2025, which covered ICT, public administration, finance, and transport.
Officials stressed that the sectors are interconnected: hospitals, schools, and defence systems all rely on stable power, while energy itself depends on finance, ICT, and transport. Protecting one sector in isolation is insufficient; coordinated standards and cross‑sector resilience are essential.
Once validated, the plans will be presented to Minister of Communication, Technology and Innovation Madam Salima Monorma Bah and subsequently to President Brigadier (Rtd.) Dr Julius Maada Bio for formal designation under the Cyber Security and Crime Act 2021. Operators will then be required to implement agreed baselines within set timelines, with compliance monitored through audits and penalties for lapses.
The initiative forms part of the Sierra Leone Digital Transformation Project, which aims to connect more citizens, strengthen institutions, and deliver reliable public services. Officials emphasised that investment in digital infrastructure is only as valuable as the protection built around it.