By: Martina George, Public Education Officer.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of the Republic of Sierra Leone has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Prosecutor General's Office of the Russian Federation to strengthen cooperation in the fight against corruption. The signing took place on 16th December, 2025, on the sidelines of the Conference of State Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption taking place at the Sheraton Grand Doha Resort and Convention Hotel, Doha, Qatar.
The Commissioner of ACC Francis Ben Kaifala Esq. signed on behalf of the Commission, while the Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation Alexander Gutsan signed on behalf of his institution. The agreement was signed on the basis of equality and mutual respect that seeks to enhance collaboration between the two institutions in preventing, detecting, investigating, asset recovery and suppressing corruption-related offences. It also emphasizes compliance with national laws and international obligations of both countries.
According to the MoU, the partnership will focus on the exchange of experience, best practices, information, and documents related to anti-corruption efforts, including national anti-corruption legislation. The two parties also agreed to jointly organize international events such as conferences, trainings, workshops, working meetings, and roundtable discussions.
The agreement further provides for mutual visits and practical training for staff of both institutions to promote knowledge sharing and capacity building, particularly in the use of modern investigative methods and technical tools.
Legal cooperation is another key component of the MoU. This includes consultations on legal matters, preparation and consideration of requests for legal assistance in criminal and non-criminal cases, and cooperation in conducting anti-corruption checks outside the criminal law sphere.
Additionally, the MoU allows for the exchange of information between the two institutions.
