The report by the London-based non-profit international affairs organization says there appears to be a willingness by the newly elected All People's Congress Party to govern Sierra Leone effectively. However, the increased use of the country and surrounding neighbors in West Africa as a transit route for drug trafficking threatens Sierra Leone's stability, Chatham House reported.

The report, titled "Sierra Leone a Year after Elections," says that with the United Nations scheduled to redeploy its peacekeeping mission out of Sierra Leone, government leaders in the country need to increase their efforts to counter the drug trade and also address the rampant poverty in order to avoid a slide into violence.

"Whist there are good signs the government is serious about reform, it will need to show greater leadership and confidence to both voters and donors if the country is to develop and prosper," Tom Cargill writes in the report.

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