Sierra Leone, Serbia Partner to Build Equipped Forensic Lab
- Grace Bangura
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
In a major step toward modernizing its justice and healthcare infrastructure, Sierra Leone is seeking technical assistance and capacity-building support from Serbia to establish the nation's first comprehensive forensic laboratory.
The initiative follows a high-level strategic meeting on August 18, 2026, between Sierra Leone’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon. Morie Lengor, and Serbia’s Consul to Sierra Leone, Dr. Adonis Abboud. Joining the discussion was Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Simion Owizz Koroma, focusing on expanding specialized forensic services and technical cooperation between the two nations.
Minister Lengor emphasized the pivotal role of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in determining causes of death, gathering court-admissible evidence, and combatting drug-related crime. However, he noted that specialized expertise—particularly in document examination and advanced forensic science—remains an urgent priority.
“Stronger cooperation with Serbia will help build the technical capacity of our institutions,” Lengor stated, calling for targeted knowledge-sharing, training, and policy coordination to support the project.
According to Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Koroma, foundational work for the facility is already well underway. The Government of Sierra Leone has allocated land for the state-of-the-art facility, and full architectural blueprints are complete.
“The establishment of Sierra Leone’s first comprehensive forensic laboratory would significantly strengthen forensic investigations and contribute to the effective administration of justice,”
Koroma noted, highlighting the facility's expected impact on court proceedings and police investigations across the country.
Serbian Consul Dr. Adonis Abboud welcomed the proposal, emphasizing that long-term progress requires investing in human capital alongside physical infrastructure. Abboud requested a detailed concept note to present to Serbian authorities to formalize technical partnerships, specialized training programs, and operational support.
Both parties agreed to a follow-up engagement in the coming weeks to map out immediate action items and accelerate the development of Sierra Leone’s national forensic capabilities.
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