The fact-checking organisation Rumor Scanner has refuted the claim that Bengali is the second official, official, or state language of the West African nation Sierra Leone.
In a report published on its website on Thursday, it stated:
“The claim that Bengali is the second official, official, or state language of Sierra Leone is incorrect, as the language was never considered a second state language in Sierra Leone.”
The fact-checking body highlighted the cultural diversity of Sierra Leone, which spans approximately 71,740 square kilometres and is home to around 18 ethnic groups.
After gaining independence from Britain in 1961, Sierra Leone experienced a civil war that began in 1991. When West African nations failed to resolve the conflict, the United Nations took over peacekeeping efforts in 1999. Several countries, including Bangladesh, contributed troops to the UN peacekeeping mission. In 2002, then-President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah officially ended the civil war, fostering strong diplomatic ties between Bangladesh and Sierra Leone, primarily through the UN peacekeeping mission.
Since 2002, claims have surfaced almost every February, suggesting that Bengali was declared the second official, one of the official languages, or even the state language of Sierra Leone.
These claims have been widely circulated, appearing in mainstream media, school textbooks, various news websites, and even in Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) exam papers.
For instance, in Chapter Nine (page 133) of the ninth–tenth grade ‘Bangladesh and World Introduction’ textbook, Bengali is mentioned as the second official language of Sierra Leone.
Fact-Checking the Claim
After an extensive investigation, the Rumor Scanner team confirmed that Bengali is not the second official, official, or state language of Sierra Leone. English remains the sole official language, while other widely spoken languages include Krio, Limba, Mende, and Temne—with Krio being the most commonly used.
Given the widespread nature of this claim, Rumor Scanner conducted a detailed investigation, analysing over fifty domestic and international research reports. The team traced the origins of this claim, consulted individuals and organisations in both Bangladesh and Sierra Leone, and examined primary sources of the claim’s dissemination.
Origins of the Claim
The claim first appeared in a report published on 27 December 2002 by the Bengali-language version of Voice of America. The report stated:
“The government of Sierra Leone has declared Bengali as an official language alongside the country’s other official languages. On 12 December, President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah announced this decision while inaugurating a 54-kilometre-long reconstructed road, built by the Bangladesh Army Engineers Corps with UN assistance.”
A similar claim was made by The Telegraph (Kolkata, India) on 29 December 2002, citing Agence France-Presse (AFP):
“Sierra Leone has declared Bengali an official language in recognition of the contribution of Bangladeshi peacekeepers. President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah made the announcement while inaugurating a 54-kilometre-long road built by Bangladeshi peacekeepers.”
The Daily Times (Pakistan) also published a 29 December 2002 report citing AFP, echoing the same claim.
Domestic Media Coverage
The Sangram Notebook online archive revealed that on 28 December 2002, Bangladeshi newspapers, including Ittefaq, Prothom Alo, The Daily Star, and Janakantha, published reports stating:
“The government of Sierra Leone has recognised Bengali as an official language alongside its other official languages.”
Additionally, on 3 January 2003, The Daily Star, citing Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), reported a statement by then Foreign Minister M. Morshed Khan:
“Bangladeshi UN peacekeepers have built a new road connecting three provinces in Sierra Leone. Moreover, the newly elected government of Sierra Leone has included Bengali as an official language.”
Different Versions of the Claim
A variation of this claim appears on the World Atlas website, which states:
“Sierra Leone has declared Bengali its official language in recognition of Bangladeshi peacekeepers’ contributions during the civil war.”
Similarly, an article on the Commonwealth Chamber of Commerce website suggests that in December 2002, Bengali was declared an ‘honorary official language’ in recognition of Bangladesh’s contributions to Sierra Leone.
Furthermore, on 21 February 2023, the Sierra Leonean Ambassador to South Korea, Kath Zibao Matai, mentioned on the Sierra Leonean Embassy’s official website:
“Former President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah declared Bengali an honorary language of Sierra Leone in 2002.”
Linguistic Landscape of Sierra Leone
According to the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs of Sierra Leone, the country has 16 to 20 ethnic groups, with the Temne and Mende being the largest, comprising 60% of the population. The widely spoken languages include Mende, Temne, and Krio. English is the official language used in education and governance, though it is primarily spoken by the educated minority.
The CIA World Factbook and Britannica confirm that English is the official language, while Krio serves as the lingua franca. Other prevalent languages include Mende, Temne, Limba, and Arabic (used in trade).
A 2020 study by Mnisha Gelman (Emerson College) published in the African Journal of Political Science and International Relations also affirms that English has remained the sole official language since 1961.
Further studies by Joko Sengova (1987) and Professor Momodu Toure (2019) reinforce that Sierra Leone’s national broadcaster, SLBS, operates primarily in English, with limited broadcasts in Mende, Temne, Limba, and Krio.
Further Investigations
In March 2023, Rumor Scanner contacted Dubawa, a West African fact-checking organisation. Fact-checker Faiya Junior Moser confirmed that English is the only official language and was surprised by the claims made in Bangladesh.
The team also reached out to The Institute for Sierra Leonean Languages (TISLL) in Freetown. Lamine Henry Kargbo, TISLL’s Programme Director, stated:
“Bengali has never been used or declared as an official language in Sierra Leone. Former President Kabbah only mentioned considering its inclusion out of appreciation for Bangladeshi peacekeepers.”
Similarly, Sia Tengbe, a Sierra Leonean teacher of 25 years, confirmed that he had never encountered any official government announcement regarding Bengali as an official language.
A 2023 fact-checking report by Dubawa further concluded that Bengali has never held official status in Sierra Leone.
Additionally, Bangladeshi psychologist Md. Akbar Hossain, who lived in Sierra Leone for a year, wrote on NewsG24 (19 March 2023):
“The claim that Bengali is Sierra Leone’s second official language is false.”
In a December 2022 YouTube video, Akbar Hossain interviewed Sierra Leoneans, who overwhelmingly stated that the country’s two primary languages are English and Krio, and most were unfamiliar with Bengali.
While President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah may have made an honorary mention of Bengali in 2002, there is no official recognition of Bengali as a language of Sierra Leone. English remains the only official language, while Krio, Mende, and Temne are widely spoken.
Thus, the long-standing claim that Bengali is the second official, official, or state language of Sierra Leone is incorrect.
