Sierra Leone's President Julius Maada Bio has issued an internal government memo directing all ministers and their deputies to cease traveling abroad as a measure to reduce government spending. This decision comes amid criticism of President Bio's own frequent overseas travels and aims to address the economic challenges facing Sierra Leone.

Sierra Leoneans face significant challenges in obtaining Schengen visas, as they must travel long distances or incur high costs to apply from neighboring countries. The process is both time-consuming and expensive, with lengthy waiting periods. Sierra Leoneans in Germany have unsuccessfully appealed to the German Foreign Ministry to facilitate visa issuance within Sierra Leone.