The Biden administration is reportedly pressuring Sierra Leone to adopt more permissive abortion policies in exchange for foreign assistance. The African nation currently prohibits abortion in most circumstances, but there is legislation before the parliament that would decriminalize the practice.
The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), a U.S. government-run funding allocator, is said to be threatening to withhold hundreds of millions in foreign assistance funding if the abortion law does not pass. The MCC's CEO signed an agreement with Sierra Leone's finance minister for $480 million in foreign assistance, contingent on the country meeting standards for good governance, fighting corruption, and respecting democratic rights.
