Sierra Leone Aviation Chief Calls for Greater Investment in Security

Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority Director General Musayeroh Barrie has called for stronger investment, better resources and greater professional recognition for aviation security personnel.

Barrie made the appeal during ICAO Security Week, held in Astana, Kazakhstan, from 20 to 22 October 2026. She participated in the event alongside Sierra Leone’s Director of Aviation Security and two aviation security inspectors.

She urged governments and aviation stakeholders to keep aviation security among their national priorities and warned against complacency. In a statement cited after the event, Barrie described aviation security as “a strategic investment in lives, national security and economic growth.”

Security and safety cooperation

Barrie highlighted the importance of closer coordination between aviation security and aviation safety. She pointed to regular briefings, joint planning and information sharing as ways to strengthen cooperation between the two areas.

According to Barrie, information exchange can help authorities respond more effectively to threats while preserving necessary confidentiality protections. She also linked effective aviation security to deliberate leadership and sustained investment, saying its importance should not be treated as optional or as one priority competing with others.

She said government commitment was important to ensuring that civil aviation authorities have the resources required to carry out their responsibilities effectively. No specific funding amount or resource allocation was identified.

Succession planning and professional recognition

Barrie also raised the need to prepare a new generation of aviation security specialists. She urged countries to invest in training younger professionals and to put succession planning in place rather than allowing the sector to depend on existing personnel without developing replacements.

She warned that failing to build the next generation of aviation security professionals could expose the aviation sector to serious vulnerabilities. Her call also included greater recognition for professionals whose work is carried out continuously and often without public attention to protect people travelling by air.

Barrie previously headed the aviation security department at Sierra Leone’s only international airport for more than 11 years. At the time described, she had served as Director General of the Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority for nearly four years.

Risk-based regional cooperation

While emphasizing the importance of international standards, Barrie said states must also assess their own security environments. She said countries face different threats and vulnerabilities and should identify their specific risks before applying appropriate measures within the framework provided by the International Civil Aviation Organization.

She encouraged closer cooperation among civil aviation authorities, particularly in Africa. Barrie said she had signed memoranda of understanding with several civil aviation authorities, especially in neighbouring countries, to support the exchange of expertise and strengthen professional relationships.

She also referred to the value of regional agreements in helping aviation authorities support one another during challenges. The names and dates of the memoranda were not specified.

Commercial growth and airport security

During a discussion involving the Chief Executive Officer of Almaty International Airport, Barrie raised the challenge of balancing airport commercialization and profitability with security requirements.

She noted that commercial development can increase the number of non-travelling people around airport facilities. Without adequate monitoring and access controls, that growth could create security vulnerabilities, according to the concerns she presented.

Barrie said Sierra Leone’s Government supports aviation security and the wider development of the country’s aviation sector. She also indicated that Sierra Leone is working to encourage greater integration across the sector.