APA – Freetown (Sierra Leone)
Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio recently hosted the Prime Minister of Senegal, Ousmane Sonko, at State House for a working visit aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation between Sierra Leone and Senegal.
The visit underscored a mutual commitment to enhancing ties, promoting trade, and fostering a shared vision for the future of both nations.
Welcoming Prime Minister Sonko, President Bio extended warm greetings to the people of Senegal, emphasizing the strong historical relationship between the two countries and expressing a desire to further deepen and broaden the scope of cooperation.
“Sierra Leone and Senegal enjoy longstanding bilateral relations, but this visit marks a new phase of partnership. We will explore new areas of cooperation, particularly in energy, mining, and road infrastructure that can physically and economically connect our countries,” President Bio stated.
President Bio also noted that Prime Minister Sonko’s visit serves as a crucial follow-up to discussions held during President Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal’s visit to Sierra Leone in June 2024. “I extend my warm regards to my brother, President Faye. We are ready to partner in concrete terms and move forward with our shared development goals. Thank you for coming, and please feel at home in Sierra Leone. We now look forward to a binding agreement that cements our partnership,” he concluded.
In response, Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko expressed profound gratitude for the warm hospitality received and conveyed fraternal greetings from President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and the people of Senegal.
“Your Excellency, I bring fraternal greetings from my President. I am here to follow up on his working visit last year and to explore ways we can enhance synergy in our cooperation and development agenda,” Prime Minister Sonko remarked.
He emphasized the importance of establishing concrete frameworks for cooperation, specifically in mineral resource development, road infrastructure, and investment opportunities. “Your Excellency, we are eager to extend an open hand of partnership. I feel at home here, and I wish to sincerely thank you for the support and integration the Senegalese community in Sierra Leone continues to enjoy. They feel welcomed and have assimilated well into the culture and values of Sierra Leone,” he added.
The visit culminated in a high-level working session co-chaired by Sierra Leone’s Vice President, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, and Prime Minister Sonko. This session focused on actionable strategies to strengthen cooperation and concluded with the signing of two pivotal Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs), highlighting their shared commitment to regional development and integration.
The first MOU on Mining and Energy Cooperation was signed by Sierra Leone’s Minister of Finance, Sheku Ahmed Fantamadi Bangura, and Senegal’s Minister of Economy, Planning, and Cooperation, Mr. Abdourahmane Sarr. The second MOU, focusing on the Promotion of Bilateral Investment and Private Sector Cooperation, was signed by Dr. Edward Hinga Sandy, Executive Director of Sierra Leone’s National Investment Board, and Mr. Bakary Sega Bathily, Managing Director of APIX, on behalf of Senegal.
Vice President Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh described the working session as a significant milestone in fostering collaboration and mutual respect. “Today’s engagements reflect a shared commitment to building a strategic minerals hub and advancing our collective development aspirations,” he stated.
ABJ/APA