ALARMING!
…MILITARY BARRACKS SOLD TO LEBANESE MAFIA
By Ibrahim Alusine Kamara (Kamalo)
Sierra Leone’s sovereignty is once again under fire, as explosive allegations surface over the secret sale and leasing of military barracks land to foreign business interests. At the center of the storm is Shalimar Trading Company, run by the powerful Lebanese business duo Mousa Mroue (Founder) and Hassan Mroue (Managing Director), accused of using political and military connections to seize strategic state property for private profit.
Goderich Barracks Grab
At Goderich Barracks, home to hundreds of serving soldiers and their families, Shalimar is accused of acquiring a massive portion of military land through alleged dubious transactions with the help of Brigadier General Lavahun. The now-popular LOR Restaurant sits on this contested site.
As if that were not enough, insiders say Shalimar is also attempting to buy the last remaining car park within the barracks, a move that would strip soldiers of their only communal open space.
Wellington Barracks Scandal
The allegations extend to Wellington Barracks, where Shalimar is said to have seized another huge section of land. There, the company allegedly constructed commercial stores which it is renting out at the astronomical price of 2 billion old leones each. Even worse, sources allege the company has evaded taxes on these earnings, while pocketing billions.
Soldiers Left Empty-Handed
Despite the wealth being generated, the ordinary soldiers—who risk their lives daily for Sierra Leone—reportedly receive nothing. Promises made by Shalimar to build modern living quarters for the military remain unfulfilled. Many families continue to languish in dilapidated housing, even as foreign profiteers cash in on their land.
Parliament Stalled – or Bought?
What raises further suspicion is that Parliament’s investigation into the matter has ground to a halt. Critics believe MPs may have been compromised or silenced, leaving the scandal to fester without accountability.
“This is nothing less than the auctioning of our sovereignty,” a retired army officer told this reporter. “Selling military land to foreigners compromises national security at its core. Tomorrow, we might find soldiers renting their own parade ground.”
In response to the allegations, Hassan Mroue, Managing Director of Shalimar Trading, dismissed the claims outright. When contacted, he described the reports as “rubbish,” insisting that Shalimar operates transparently and within the law.
However, critics remain unconvinced, arguing that such denials are typical of foreign monopolists who have long exploited Sierra Leone’s weak institutions to entrench themselves at the expense of citizens.
A Nation on Sale
The allegations, if true, represent not just corruption, but a dangerous breach of national security. Military land—meant for the defense and welfare of Sierra Leone—has allegedly been carved up and handed over to foreign profiteers, while the people who swore to defend the nation remain neglected.
For now, Sierra Leoneans wait for answers—but with Parliament silent, the military complicit, and foreign mafias emboldened, many fear the worst: that the country itself is up for sale, one barracks at a time.