The Ministry of Communication, Technology and Innovation has confirmed that Sierra Leone was among several countries affected by a major international cybersecurity breach that compromised the management system responsible for internet domain names, exposing 44 Sierra Leonean website addresses to potential fraudulent redirection.
In a Press Release issued in Freetown on Friday, October 9, 2026, the Ministry disclosed that the security incident occurred on September 25, 2026, when unauthorized individuals gained access to the CoCCA domain management system, an international platform used to administer internet domain names.
The breach affected Sierra Leone’s national internet domain system, which manages website addresses ending in “.sl”, including those belonging to Government institutions, private businesses and other organisations operating within the country.
According to the Ministry, 44 website addresses registered under Sierra Leone’s national domain were affected, including one Government website and several commercial websites. The unauthorized access created a potential risk of internet users being redirected from legitimate websites to fraudulent platforms controlled by cybercriminals.
The Ministry explained that the incident formed part of a wider series of cyberattacks affecting multiple countries that rely on the same international domain management infrastructure.
Citing a security report published by Google on October 6, 2026, the Ministry revealed that Sierra Leone was among several affected countries, including Ghana and American Samoa.
Despite the seriousness of the breach, the Government reassured the public that the incident was detected and contained on the same day it occurred, with all 44 affected website addresses restored to their correct configurations within hours.
The Ministry further disclosed that immediate security measures were implemented to prevent additional unauthorized access, eliminate the identified threat and strengthen protection of the affected domain management infrastructure.
A subsequent security assessment conducted after the incident found no evidence of continuing unauthorized access as of October 8, 2026, providing reassurance that the immediate threat had been successfully addressed.
However, the Government acknowledged that investigations remain ongoing to determine exactly how the attackers gained access to the international domain management system and whether any additional vulnerabilities could expose Sierra Leone’s digital infrastructure to future attacks.
The Ministry stated that it is working closely with local and international partners to monitor the system, assess emerging security risks and introduce additional safeguards aimed at preventing similar incidents.
The development has highlighted the importance of cybersecurity in protecting Sierra Leone’s expanding digital environment, particularly as Government institutions, businesses and other organisations increasingly depend on internet-based platforms to deliver essential services and communicate with the public.
The security of the country’s national domain system remains particularly important because website addresses ending in “.sl” are used by institutions and businesses whose online credibility depends on users being able to access legitimate websites without interference.
Although the Ministry confirmed that the affected website addresses had been restored, it emphasized that continued monitoring and further security improvements remain necessary to strengthen the country’s protection against future cyber threats.
The Government of Sierra Leone reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the country’s digital infrastructure and ensuring that the national internet domain system remains secure and reliable.
It also assured citizens, businesses and other stakeholders that the public would be kept informed of any significant developments arising from the ongoing investigations.
The Ministry maintained that protecting Sierra Leone’s digital infrastructure remains a Government priority as the country continues to advance its technological development and digital transformation agenda.
