By Fatima Kpaka
Freetown, October. 9, 2026: – The Government of Sierra Leone has confirmed a security breach affecting the country’s national internet domain system, revealing that 44 websites using the “.sl” domain were impacted by an unauthorized cyber intrusion.
In a statement issued Friday, the Ministry of Communication, Technology and Innovation disclosed that the breach targeted the CoCCA domain management system, a global platform used to manage internet domains, including Sierra Leone’s “.sl” web addresses.
The ministry said the incident occurred on September 25, 2026, when the system was accessed without authorization, exposing affected websites to the risk of being redirected to fraudulent online destinations.
Among the impacted websites were one government platform and several commercial websites.
According to the ministry, the security breach was detected and contained on the same day, with all affected domain settings restored within hours.
“Immediate measures were also taken to block any further unauthorized access, remove the security threat and strengthen the protection of the system,” the statement noted.
The update follows a security report published by Google on October 6, which identified Sierra Leone among a number of countries affected by a broader wave of similar cyberattacks. Other countries reportedly affected include Ghana and American Samoa.
Government officials emphasized that a subsequent security review found no evidence of continued unauthorized access as of October 8.
While assuring the public that the immediate threat has been neutralized, the ministry said investigations remain ongoing to determine how the breach occurred and assess any additional risks.
The government said it is working closely with local and international partners to monitor the situation and implement further safeguards aimed at preventing future cyberattacks.
The Ministry reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting Sierra Leone’s digital infrastructure and pledged to keep the public informed of any significant developments arising from the investigation.