The Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) through its Armed Forces Endowment and Loan Scheme (AFELS) has paid the total amount of Le 116, 573 to a total of 36 military personnel, who were convicted last year for their involvement in the bloody coup of 26th November, 2023.
- The said amount was paid to the soldiers as Cash Value Benefits. The payment was completed on 21st May, 2025.
III. In the full view of the authorities of the custodial facilities at Pademba Road, Freetown, each convicted personnel was personally given his appropriate benefit.
- The Armed Forces Endowment and Loan Scheme (AFELS) is one of the public limited companies – whose establishment was graciously endorsed by the President of Sierra Leone, Brigadier-General Julius Maada Bio (Retired) in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief of RSLAF and Chairman of Defence Council.
- On the assumption of office in April 2018, the Commander-in-Chief and Chairman of Defence Council promised to transform the Armed Forces into a modern military institution that will be admired and respected as a role model for security and development.
- Hence, in January, 2022, the first transformation effort was actualized. Thus, AFELS was established to provide financial services for military personnel.
VII. These financial services include Cash Value Benefit, Death Benefit and Loan.
VIII. In accordance with the AFELS Policy, the Cash Value Benefit is personally paid to any military personnel, who resigns, retires or is dismissed for any crime. The Benefit is calculated as follows: the total contribution for, at least, two years plus 25% interest of the said contribution. However, if the personnel’s total contribution is less than two years, the 25% interest is forfeited.
- Moreover, Death Benefit is another welfare handled by AFELS. The Benefit is only paid to the beneficiaries of a deceased personnel. The beneficiaries must be listed in the deceased’s Data Capture Form. The calculation of the Benefit is the same as the Cash Value Benefit. However, if the deceased’s total contribution is less than two years and/or less than the total amount of Le 2,500, the flat amount of Le 2,500 is paid as Death Benefit.
- It is important to note that the Death Benefit paid by AFELS is quite different from the RSLAF Funeral Purse, which was astronomically increased by President Bio from one bag of rice and Le 820 to three bags of rice and Le 12,000.
- Furthermore, Loan is also given out by AFELS. It is a soft one. At most, it is 40% of the annual salary of any military personnel. The loan is repaid with a 10% interest over a 12-month period.
XII. A data compiled by AFELS shows that its loan facility has drastically put an end to the high rate of applications for bank loans, which military personnel have scrambled for over the years.
XIII. Of late, it has been established that the bank loans did not adequately solve the financial challenges faced by military personnel; rather, the loans created indebtedness for and lowered the living conditions of the personnel.
XIV. Membership to the Scheme is mandatory. Each and every military personnel contributes to the Scheme on monthly basis. The monthly contribution ranges from Le 75 to Le 500.
- It is also important to note that these monthly contributions are invested so as to generate profits, which are utilized to take care of the interest rate for the various Benefits.
XVI. The key figure for the establishment of AFELS is the newly-promoted Brigadier-General Roland Robin Gbondo, who has been recently placed in charge of the newly established investments wing of the Armed Forces. He has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Defence Enterprise Services (DES).
Major Yayah Brima, Esq.,
Acting Director,
Defence Public Relations and
Information
Defence Headquarters
Cockerill Barracks,
Freetown.