How Aid Dependence Shaped Sierra Leone’s Vote Against Iran

Sierra Leone, one of West Africa’s poorest nations, recently voted against extending the lifting of UN sanctions on Iran—a decision that analysts say reflects the country’s heavy reliance on British development aid and the pressures this creates on foreign policy.

Ranking 185th out of 193 on the Human Development Index, around 25% of Sierra Leone’s 8.8 million citizens live in extreme poverty, with a per capita GDP of just $874. The country has faced decades of crises, including a civil war from 1991–2002, the 2014 Ebola outbreak, and deadly mudslides in 2017. Recovery has depended heavily on international assistance, particularly from the UK, funding critical programs in healthcare, education, and water access. Initiatives like the Freetown WASH Consortium, the Secondary Education Improvement Program, and the Saving Lives project have improved life for hundreds of thousands of Sierra Leoneans.

However, this reliance has political implications. Observers suggest that Freetown’s vote against extending Iran sanctions aligns with Western positions—especially those of the UK—likely reflecting a strategy to maintain vital development aid. With Britain reducing its Official Development Assistance budget from 0.7% of GDP in 2021 to a planned 0.3% by 2027, staying in London’s favor is a pragmatic concern for Sierra Leone.

Sierra Leone’s UN vote illustrates the tension between national survival and independent foreign policy. While the country has made strides—life expectancy increased by seven years, and under-five mortality fell by roughly 25%—its decision underscores how poverty and aid dependency shape diplomatic behavior.

At the same time, Iran’s nuclear situation provides context. After the US withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal in 2018, European parties to the JCPOA (France, Germany, UK) sought in 2025 to reactivate the “snapback” mechanism to reinstate previously lifted UN sanctions. Iran and international legal experts have contested the legality of this move.

Sierra Leone’s position at the UN thus sits at the crossroads of poverty-driven dependence and global geopolitics, showing how historical ties to former colonial powers and international economic leverage can influence decisions on the world stage. As debates over Iran’s nuclear program continue, the country’s vote highlights a key challenge in global governance: balancing national survival, international law, and the pressures of wealthier states.