Credit: AYV
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CLAIM: A social media post claims that Sierra Leone has 10 airports.
VERDICT: Misleading. According to Sierra Leone Airport Authority (SLAA), Sierra Leone currently has only one operational airport- the Freetown International Airport at Lungi and Hastings Airfield.
Full Text
A Facebook post by The African Voice lists the estimated number of airports in African countries. In this list, Sierra Leone is said to have 10 airports. This post has generated mixed reactions, with some Sierra Leoneans disputing the figure.
In response, a Facebook user named Ibrahim Manasaray challenged the claim, stating that Sierra Leone has only one airport, the Freetown International Airport at Lungi. He explained that although the government once announced plans to build another “brand new” airport, this was later clarified as a new airport terminal, not a new airport entirely.
The post by The African Voice forms part of a larger list that includes other African countries and the number of airports they supposedly have. For Sierra Leone, the list states Sierra Leone’s 10 airports, which contradicts the official position of the SLAA.
Because of its potential misinformation, DUBAWA decided to fact-check the claim.
Verification
To verify the claim, DUBAWA searched the Sierra Leone Airports Authority and found that Sierra Leone has only one operational airport: the Freetown International Airport, located at Lungi in the Port Loko District.
The country has smaller airstrips and helipads in some areas, but these are not classified as full airports under international aviation standards. The previous government promised to build a second international airport at Mamamah in Tonkolili District, but the project was never completed. Instead, the current administration upgraded the existing Lungi facility by constructing a modern terminal building, which was officially opened in 2023.
It is possible that The African Voice’s list mistakenly counted airstrips, helipads, or military landing fields as “airports,” which can inflate the number and cause public confusion.
Conclusion
The claim that Sierra Leone has ten airports is misleading. The country currently operates only one internationally recognised airport, the Freetown International Airport at Lungi. While there are a few smaller airstrips and helipads across the country, these do not meet the classification of full airports under international aviation definitions.
