Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Saturday 3 February 2024 - Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Rashid Sesay has
been unanimously appointed by his colleagues as the new Dean of The African Group of Ambassadors in the UAE.
The African Group of Ambassadors is one of the biggest diplomatic blocs in the UAE. In his new capacity, Ambassador Sesay will be leading coordination of the
affairs of the bloc with a membership of over thirty African Ambassadors in the gulf-state.
At a well-attended event in Abu Dhabi, the UAE capital, Ghanaian Ambassador to the UAE, Ahmed Ramadan congratulated his colleague on the assumption of the
leadership role saying that he was excited about Ambassador Sesay’s initiatives to make the Group effective and stronger. He assured that they would support him to deliver on the Group’s
mandates.
In his remarks, Ambassador Sesay thanked his colleagues for the confidence reposed in him to lead the bloc, while noting that with more engagements they could build
on the great ideas for the interest of Africa. He also spoke on the strong relationship between the UAE and the African continent.
“We need to continue building on this unity as we can only get better with unity. We all have various skills which we need to bring together for the general good. I
look forward to working with everyone,” the new Dean added.
The event was attended by Ambassadors and representatives from twenty-eight African countries.
For more enquiries:
Mohamed Lamin Massaquoi
Information Attaché, United Arab Emirates
+971 50 2089695
massaquoi@slembassyuae.com
In this end of year interview, Ambassador Rashid Sesay discussed:
• His journey from international development to diplomacy.
• Sierra Leone’s post-war consolidation of democracy, peace, and tolerance.
• Sierra Leone’s investment in Human Capital Development and the gains made in education, agriculture, and health.
• Sierra Leone’s current food self-sufficiency drive through the ‘Feed Salone’ initiative.
• Sierra Leone’s election to the United Nations Security Council and how the West-African country intends to share its experience to the rest of the
world.
• The ever-growing relations between Sierra Leone and the United Arab Emirates, including ongoing projects between the two countries.
Thanks for watching!!!
Mohamed Lamin Massaquoi
Information Attaché, United Arab Emirates
massaquoi@slembassyuae.com
In this first part of the interview, Jiwoh Emmanuel Abdulai discussed the following:
• Sierra Leone’s contributions to the COP28 as part of the negotiations.
• Sierra Leone’s pavilion at the summit, showcasing the country’s climate successes and challenges.
• Sierra Leone’s vulnerability to Climate Change and how that affects livelihood of citizens.
• Sierra Leone’s quest to develop its natural assets to support domestic and global mitigation efforts.
• Partnership drive to transform Sierra Leone’s energy and food systems to make the country more resilient to Climate Change.
Thanks for watching and please stay tuned for Part 2.
Mohamed Lamin Massaquoi
Information Attache, United Arab Emirates
massaquoi@slembassyuae.com
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Sunday 10 December 2023 - Sierra Leone’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Henry Musa Kpaka has
said that the ambitious ‘Feed Salone’ programme launched by Sierra Leone’s President Dr. Julius Maada Bio will transform food systems, create jobs for women and youth and spur economic growth in the
West-African nation.
Dr. Kpaka made this statement while speaking at the formal launch of the ‘Alliance of Champions for Food System Transformation,’ which is Co-chaired by Sierra
Leone, Norway and Brazil. He described the bloc as a group of ambitious countries determined to act urgently to close the ambition and implementation gaps on food systems to speed up international
progress.
“The situation in Sierra Leone is unsustainable. Since the war in Ukraine began last year, we have seen unprecedented levels of disruption across food, energy and
fertiliser markets. Our food import bill has gone up by 40%, and food price inflation of over 50% has driven higher levels of food insecurity. Weather changes are making the lives of everyone in
Sierra Leone more difficult,” he said.
He mentioned to address difficulties posed by food insecurity, President Bio has launched the ambitious Feed Salone programme, with five strategic objectives to
achieve food security, increase exports, create jobs especially for women and youth, alleviate hunger and malnutrition and build resilient food system. He said Sierra Leone would achieve those
objectives through strategic initiatives ranging from mechanization and irrigation to enhancing access to climate-resilient seeds and inputs.
“We aim to transform our agricultural landscape, improving aggregation, processing, and market linkages, and harnessing the power of climate-smart agriculture and
AgTech. Crucial to this transformation is ensuring better access to finance and, vitally, empowering women and youth, who are the backbone of our agricultural workforce,” he said.
On her part, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, Her Excellency Mariam Bint Almheiri said that the COP28 had provided a historic moment for the food
systems because they had been able to get the political will and mobilize financing with $3.1 billion going into the food systems. She also disclosed that the signatories on the UAE Declaration on
Food Systems, Agriculture and Climate had risen to 152 countries.
For more enquiries:
Mohamed Lamin Massaquoi
Information Attaché, United Arab Emirates
+971 50 2089695
massaquoi@slembassyuae.com
*Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Sunday 10 December 2023* - Minister of Environment, Jiwoh Emmanuel Abdulai has told a forum at the COP28
that Sierra Leone is looking for partnerships that provide opportunities for knowledge sharing, technology transfer, technical assistance, and investment into the country’s natural
assets.
“Nature has regulated the planet's climate for centuries and we think leveraging nature's technology must be part of the solution to addressing Climate Change. The
Upper Guinea Forests which run through Sierra Leone are one of the planet's major lungs. The mangroves along the west coast of the country are super-efficient at carbon sequestration. These
terrestrial forests and wetlands have been providing carbon sequestration services to the world free of change for over a century,” he said.
He however, noted that undervaluation of the assets producing these services had led to land degradation and deforestation, noting that they could reverse the trend
if the world starts valuing these natural assets correctly with capital investment in the natural carbon sinks.
Minister Abdulai cited that the 2016 Report by West African Biodiversity and Climate Change programme measured over 240,000 hectares of mangroves in Sierra Leone
with estimated 25% (60,000) lost or degraded, adding that the figure may have increased recently. He disclosed that a pilot programme carried out on few hectares in Sierra Leone showed that
restoration could be achieved in areas considered severely degraded or lost with degraded areas automatically regenerating themselves if left undisturbed.
The Environment Minister also stated that Sierra Leone would like to restore at least 30,000 hectares of mangroves by 2030, while maintaining existing primary
mangrove forests. This, he said, would benefit local communities through protection of coastline from flooding and coastal erosion, restoration of breeding grounds for marine ecosystems, and
provision of employment from the restoration and protection efforts.
For More Enquiries:
Mohamed Lamin Massaquoi
Information Attachè, United Arab Emirates
+971 50 2989695
massaquoi@slembassyuae.com
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Friday December 8 2023 - Chairman Presidential Initiative for Climate
Change, Renewable Energy and Food Security, Hon. Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella has delivered an address at the “Alliance Of Champions For Food Systems Transformation Consultation” Forum at the ongoing
COP28 in Dubai, where he also discussed efforts being made by Sierra Leone’s President Dr. Julius Maada Bio to achieve food self-sufficiency in the next five years.
Sierra Leone is among 134 countries who have signed the Leaders Declaration on Agriculture, Food and Climate to strengthen food systems,
build resilience on climate change and aid the fight against hunger. The Food Alliance, due to be formally launched during the COP28, will be Co-chaired by Sierra Leone, Norway, and Brazil to provide
roadmap to accelerate global partnerships on food security.
UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, Her Excellency Mariam Bint Almheiri said that the food sector was proud of what
had been achieved at the COP28, emphasizing that the COP28 presidency had placed food systems at the heart of its agenda for the first time in COP history providing an opportunity to accelerate
efforts toward food security. She also disclosed the ongoing COP28 had so far mobilized $83 billion, setting the pace for climate action.
She noted the top five priorities for implementing the Leaders Declaration would be scaling up adaptation and resilience activities to
reduce impact on farmers, collectively working towards promoting food security and nutrition, focusing on supporting workers in the agriculture and food systems especially women and youth whose
livelihood are threatened by climate change, embracing integrated strategy of managing water and agriculture food systems and maximining the climate and environmental benefits by promoting and
restoring land and natural ecosystem.
Hon. Dr. Yumkella, on his part, stated that President Dr. Julius Maada Bio had placed priority on food security for the next five years
in order to make Sierra Leone food sufficient to create jobs for women and youth and boost economic growth, while assuring that they were ready technically with the right strategies and plans to
achieve food self-sufficiency.
“We are very clear. Our President is leading in front. For us it’s action. We really want to be food self-sufficient. We are among the
most vulnerable countries because of climate change. We want to embed energy solutions, decentralize energy solutions for the food system as well that will help the adaption and the resilience,” he
said.
Also at the event was Sierra Leone’s Minister of Environment, Jiwoh Emmanuel Abdulai and Executive Chairman of the country’s Environment
Protection Agency, Dr. Abu-Bakarr Massaquoi.
For more enquiries:
Mohamed Lamin Massaquoi
Information Attaché
Sierra Leone Embassy, United Arab Emirates
+971 50 2089695
massaquoi@slembassyuae.com
*Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates* – Sierra Leone’s Minister of Health and Sanitation, Dr. Austin Demby has on the sidelines of the COP28
met with the leadership of the Global Care Hospital in Abu Dhabi, where he discussed possible areas of partnership to improve his country’s health sector.
In his presentation, Dr. Demby said that Sierra Leone was looking at building a nation around its people and the people’s welfare through investing in Human Capital
to foster a healthy, educated and food secured public. He also noted that despite the challenges, they had made tremendous progress adding that Sierra Leone was renowned for being one of the success
stories in reduction of maternal mortality rates within the African continent. The Minister stated they were looking for opportunities to train the health workforce in line with the country’s needs
and having the right infrastructure to support healthcare providers.
“We are looking at health as a platform for the nation’s development such that everybody could be the best that they want to be with the infrastructure to support
them. We have an opportunity to build the kind of healthcare system that we desire, so we are looking for partnerships, friendships, and opportunities for strong collaboration,” he said.
In his response, Chief Executive Officer of Global Care Hospital, Magdy Riad Fayek, mentioned that he was impressed with the presentations from the visiting
delegation and the vision to transform Sierra Leone’s healthcare sector. He assured their willing to work with Sierra Leone and share their experience in different areas, while stating the need to
develop a Memorandum of Understanding as a roadmap for collaboration that would cover teaching, training, research, exchanging programmes, remote learning, telemedicine to support remote areas and
establishing facilities. He also added that both parties would benefit from the roadmap with lot of amazing ideas and very wise vision for healthcare.
Also in attendance were Deputy Foreign Minister, Madam Francess Piagie Alghali, Deputy Minister of Health II Madam Jalikatu Mustapha and Sierra Leone Ambassador to
the UAE, Rashid Sesay.
For more enquiries:
Mohamed Lamin Massaquoi
Information Attaché
Sierra Leone Embassy, United Arab Emirates
+971 50 2089695
massaquoi@slembassyuae.com
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Sunday 3 December 2023 - Sierra Leone’s Minister of Health and Sanitation, Dr. Austin Demby has reiterated
President Dr. Julius Maada Bio’s commitment to eradicating neglected tropical diseases, as part of transforming the lives of Sierra Leoneans.
Dr. Demby made this statement while representing President Bio at a gathering in Dubai, organised by ‘Reaching the Last Mile’ to “galvanize new momentum and
investment to address climate-health challenges confronting last-mile communities, with an emphasis on efforts to end diseases such as polio, malaria, and neglected tropical diseases
(NTD).”
The Health Minister said that Sierra Leone recognised the transformative power of eliminating neglected tropical diseases, while adding that his country was
dedicated to breaking the cycle of suffering and fostering positive societal change. He stated Sierra Leone’s commitment aimed to keep children in school, empower adults to secure decent livelihoods,
and promote gender equity. Dr. Demby disclosed that over 7 million people in Sierra Leone urgently required interventions against neglected tropical diseases, perpetuating cycles of poverty and
costing the nation billions annually.
He added those diseases disproportionately affect women and girls, leading to adverse outcomes, particularly for women of reproductive age. Dr. Demby, on behalf of
President Bio, also announced a commitment of $500,000 in show of Sierra Leone’s unwavering support to end neglected tropical diseases.
UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation, Her Excellency Reem Bint Ebrahim Al Hashimy stated the occasion marked a historic show of solidarity in the
global efforts to end related tropical diseases. She also announced the UAE President’s commitment of $100 million to the expansion of the ‘Reaching the Last Mile Fund’, saying the move
represented an ambitious vision for an Africa free from the burden of preventable diseases.
Other keynote speakers at the event included Bill Gates, Co-Founder of the Gates and Melina Foundation, who also announced a commitment of $100 million. Sierra
Leone stands to benefit from the Funds to help deal with tropical diseases.
Accompanying the Health Minister to the Forum was Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to the UAE, Rashid Sesay.
For More Enquiries:
Mohamed Lamin Massaquoi
Information Attaché, Sierra Leone Embassy, United Arab Emirates
+971 50 2089695
massaquoi@slembassyuae.com
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Saturday 2 December 2023 – At a High-Level Session held at the ongoing Conference of the Parties (COP28) in
Dubai by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and partners, the leaders of Denmark, Germany, Kenya and Namibia gathered to reaffirm their commitment to the Accelerated Partnerships for
Renewables in Africa (APRA).
Founded in September 2023 in collaboration with Denmark, Germany, Kenya, Sierra Leone and launched in Nairobi during the Africa Climate Summit (ACS), the
partnership seeks to boost the production of renewable energy in Africa.
President of Kenya, William Ruto, thanked President Bio for his strong support for APRA and the launch in Kenya, reiterating that leaders in Africa will work
together to find African solutions to the challenges they face in the continent.
On his part, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz acknowledged APRA’s role in galvanizing action and the inspirational leadership the partnership had set for others to
follow. He also recognized President Bio’s role and colleague Heads of State for their laudable efforts.
Speaking on behalf of President Bio, Leader of the Sierra Leone delegation at COP28, Hon. Dr. Kandeh Yumkella, Chairman, Presidential Initiative on Climate Change,
Renewable Energy and Food Security (PI-CREF) reaffirmed President Bio’s commitment and efforts aimed at addressing climate challenges and noted specifically his call to “focus our efforts to limiting
global warming.”
“To drive industrialization, we must unlock our huge renewable energy potential along with other sources to light up, power homes, schools, hospitals and
businesses. That is the only thing that will empower people to create more wealth for and in their communities.”
“As we gather here today with our friends and supporters, we know quite clearly that success will come only when we have strong and credible public-private
partnerships. Partnerships that are actionable. This partnership that we have started will require international cooperation and coordination to mobilize the needed finance, provide technical
assistance and capacity building,” he said.
To significantly achieve the APRA goals, all leaders emphasized the critical importance of the role of the private sector to mobilize finance, enable public
policies along with needed technical assistance and capacity building for countries who are members of the partnership. As a founding member, Sierra Leone will significantly benefit from the
partnership to support President Bio’s goals of reducing energy poverty and increasing access through a sustainable energy system.
It could be remembered that Sierra Leone recently hosted an APRA workshop in Freetown supported by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) during the
launch of the country’s national Climate Resilience and Energy Transition Dialogue in Freetown.
The ongoing COP28 in Dubai is the first Global Stock Take to assess the world’s progress on commitments made in the Paris Climate Agreement in
2015.
Credit:
Mohamed Lamin Massaquoi
Information Attache, Sierra Leone Embassy, United Arab Emirates
+971 50 2089695
massaquoi@slembassyuae.com
Anthony Karim Kamara
Director of Partnerships, Communications and Outreach
PI-CREF
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Friday, 1 December 2023 - Members of the Sierra Leone delegation to the Conference of the Parties (COP28)
have today attended the opening ceremony of the climate summit in Dubai.
During the event, Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, congratulated the COP28UAE President on the positive start of the conference with
an expeditious approval of the agenda and the landmark operationalisation of the Lost and Damage Funds. He said that climate challenges were bringing the world to its knees, adding that was a
sickness only global leaders could cure.
“We are miles from the goals of the Paris Agreement…but it is not too late. We have the technologies to avoid the worst if we act now. We need leadership,
cooperation and political will for actions and we need it now. Climate justice is long overdue. Developing countries have been devastated by disasters they did not cause. The global stock take must
commit to a surge in finance including for adaptation and lost and damage and it must support reform of the multilateral development banks to leverage far more private finance at reasonable costs for
developing countries in climate action,” he said.
King Charles III of the United Kingdom expressed optimism that the COP28 would be another critical turning point towards genuine action. He said that dealing with
climate change was a job for everyone, while urging global leaders to work together to make it easier to embrace decisions that will sustain the world. He reminded the climate negotiation process
that the hope of the world would rest on the decisions they take.
Earlier on, the United Arab Emirates President, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan announced a $30 billion fund for global climate change solutions as
a way of bridging the climate financing gap.
The COP28 has brought together world leaders, private sector players, civil society and other stakeholders who over the next two weeks would discuss and take
actions to address climate issues in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 13.
Members of the Sierra Leone delegation are expected to participate in several platforms during the summit.
For More Information:
Mohamed Lamin Massaquoi
Information Attaché, United Arab Emirates
+971 50 2089695
massaquoi@slembassyuae.com
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Tuesday 14 February 2023 - Sierra Leone’s Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Dr. David Moinina
Sengeh, has received the Best Minister Award in the World, as part of the ongoing 10th edition of the World Government Summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
With the theme: “Shaping Future Governments”, this edition was attended by political leaders, experts and innovators, during which they discussed possible ways of
shaping future government policies. In the audience during the Award ceremony were three African Presidents.
According to the citation: “The Award recognises the exceptional efforts of Government Ministers by demonstrating excellence in the public sector, implementing
successful reforms and inspiring Government leaders and service providers to promote innovation within their domain to better serve the needs of their citizens.”
Dr. Sengeh was among ten other ministers, who were nominated after a global due diligence conducted by PWC, which also included the public opinion through social
media, a jury of international experts and key figure representatives of international organisations and the private sector to select the winner. The Award was presented by High Highness Sheikh
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
Shortly after receiving the Award, Dr. Sengeh said that he was excited that the recognition would help to motivate school-going children in Sierra Leone and all
other stakeholders in the education sector to do more. He noted that the commitment of President Dr. Julius Maada Bio allowed him to carry out his mandate with ease, adding that Sierra Leone’s
investment in education had been coupled with priority on making sure that the poor, disabled, vulnerable and even those in remote areas were all catered for.
“When everyone is included and when we use technology to provide solutions for our students, everyone benefits and the system gets better. So, as we innovate and
solve problems within the education system, we must think about those who are most excluded because when we build systems that work for them, everyone benefits,” he said.
Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to the UAE, Rashid Sesay, who was also part of the event, emphasized that the recognition was a proud moment for every Sierra Leonean and
a testament that the great efforts of His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio to provide affordable education for all was being recognised across the globe.
Other notable participants in this year’s edition of the World Government Summit, included His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE,
President Macky Sall of Senegal and Chairperson of the African Union, President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt, Madam Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, and
Madam Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director General of the World Trade Organisation.
For more enquiries:
Mohamed Lamin Massaquoi
Information Attaché
Sierra Leone Embassy, United Arab Emirates.
+971 50 2089695
Email: massaquoi@slembassyuae.com
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Wednesday, 8 February 2023 - Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, UAE, has today joined
colleague diplomats and other mourners to sign a Book of Condolence at the Turkish Embassy in Abu Dhabi, capital of the UAE, in honor of those who died following Monday’s earthquakes in several
cities in Turkey.
Ambassador Rashid Sesay said that he was saddened to learn of the magnitude of the earthquakes that claimed thousands of lives while leaving many homeless. He noted
that the high level of global response to provide rescue and humanitarian support since the incident showed that the country is perceived positively across the world.
In an official tweet from State House in Freetown, President Dr Julius Maada Bio, on behalf of the Government and people of Sierra Leone extended his heartfelt
sympathy to the Governments and peoples of Turkey and Syria regarding the tragic loss of lives and injuries sustained as a result of the deadly earthquakes.
Turkey is home to a large number of Sierra Leoneans and a popular trading destination for many. The transcontinental nation is also a strategic development partner
to Sierra Leone collaborating in several fields, particularly in the aviation sector.
For more enquiries:
Mohamed Lamin Massaquoi
Information Attaché
Sierra Leone Embassy, United Arab Emirates
+971 50 2089695
Email: massaquoi@slembassyuae.com
Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, Tuesday 7 February 2023 - Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, UAE, has paid a courtesy
call on the leadership of the Al Qasimia University, where he advocated for increased scholarship support for Sierra Leonean students.
Ambassador Rashid Sesay, on behalf of the Government of Sierra Leone, thanked the University leadership for already offering scholarship opportunities to sixteen
Sierra Leoneans who are currently studying with them. He informed the University of his county’s priority on Human Capital Development, while noting that the move by the Al Qasimia University to
provide free learning opportunities for his compatriots would go a long way to complement the vision of Sierra Leone.
“My aim is to create more opportunities for our people through increasing the number of Sierra Leoneans studying in this University in the coming years which is in
line with President Dr. Julius Maada Bio’s agenda to prepare our people for the future through capacity building,” he said.
On his part, Chancellor of the Al Qasimia University, Professor Awad Al Khalaf thanked Ambassador Sesay for the visit and added that they were happy to deliver high
quality teaching and learning environment for their students, which included Sierra Leoneans. He noted that their scholarship programs covered full tuition, accommodation and stipend among other
facilities and assured of their willingness to receive more students from Sierra Leone who would meet their entry requirements. He also said that they would welcome the prospect of exchange visits
with higher institutions of learning in Sierra Leone.
Ambassador Sesay also held a meeting with Sierra Leoneans studying at the University during which he encouraged them to work hard and always serve as good examples.
“Education is a huge asset for anyone and I applaud you all for this achievement. I encourage you to work as one family by keeping the peace and cohesion among yourselves,” he
added.
Mohamed Pateh Jalloh, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, commended the Sierra Leone Envoy for making time to visit and for his continuous advocacy to increase
the number of students from Sierra Leone.
It could be noted that in July 2019, Ambassador Rashid Sesay visited the University when there was no student from Sierra Leone. Currently, there are sixteen Sierra
Leoneans at the University pursuing various fields of study.
For more enquiries:
Mohamed Lamin Massaquoi
Information Attaché
Sierra Leone Embassy, United Arab Emirates
+971 50 2089695
Email: massaquoi@slembassyuae.com
New Delhi, India, Friday, 13th January, 2023 - Sierra Leone’s accredited High Commissioner to India, Rashid Sesay has met with a group of
entrepreneurs and diplomats in New Delhi, India to share his country’s investment climate and opportunities.
High Commissioner Sesay said that Sierra Leone and India shared a lot in common and expressed admiration for India’s development trajectory, while noting that there
was a lot Sierra Leone could benefit from in terms of knowledge and experience sharing. He mentioned that his visit to India was to share his country’s development vision, tap from India’s experience
and woo the right investment on a mutual basis.
The Envoy also mentioned series of investment reforms in Sierra Leone, particularly the National Investment Board, set up to eradicate all roadblocks to investment
and to provide the strongest political commitment that would encourage investment to thrive. He highlighted several areas that offer opportunities for investment in Sierra Leone ranging from
agriculture, education, tourism, infrastructure, medicines and pharmaceuticals and telecommunications.
“We are looking out for investments that will provide employment opportunities for our youths and impact our local communities. We are a safe country and you are
assured that your businesses will be safe. Sierra Leone is the place to be and I welcome you all to visit and get a first-hand experience of our hospitality and the enormous opportunities we can
offer,” he said.
Honorary Consul for Sierra Leone in India, Dr Sukhdev Kumar, an entrepreneur and medical practitioner, told the gathering that Sierra Leone was a fast-developing
nation with potentials in different fields and therefore encouraged his compatriots to visit and invest in the West-African state.
As part of the outcomes of the engagements, work has already started for an Indian trade delegation to visit Sierra Leone earlier this year.
For More Enquiries:
Mohamed Lamin Massaquoi
Information Attaché, United Arab Emirates
+971 50 208 9695
email: massaquoi@slembassyuae.com
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Leader of the National Grand Coalition (NGC) in the Sierra Leone Parliament, Honorable Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkellah is in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates ahead of
the 13th Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency, IRENA, scheduled for 13th – 15th January 2023.
This year’s edition will be hosted under the theme ‘World Energy Transition - The Global Stocktake’. IRENA is noted as a lead global intergovernmental agency for
energy transformation that serves as the principal platform for international cooperation, supports countries in their energy transitions, and provides state of the art data and analyses on
technology, innovation, policy, finance and investment.
Honorable Yumkella is expected to join Heads of State/Government, ministers and energy decision-makers as well as multilateral organizations, global stakeholders
and private actors to take stock of operational plans and policies and highlight the concerted action undertaken to implement the energy transition across countries, regions, and the
world.
On the margins of the IRENA Assembly, the lawmaker today paid a courtesy visit on the Sierra Leone Embassy in the United Arab Emirates, where he was received in
courtesy by Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Ambassador Rashid Sesay. They both discussed several issues relating to the growth and development of Sierra
Leone.
Mohamed Lamin Massaquoi
Information Attachè, Sierra Leone Embassy, United Arab Emirates
+971 50 2089695
Email: massaquoi@slembassyuae.com
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Friday 2 December, 2022 - Sierra Leone’s President, Dr. Julius Maada Bio has sent a congratulatory
message to the Government and People of the United Arab Emirates, UAE on the occasion of its 51st National Day celebration.
“Hearty congratulations to my brother & friend, HH Sheikh @MohamedBinZayed, the government & people of the #UAE on your 51st National Day. I commend your
strides and leadership and restate #SierraLeone’s readiness to sustain the bonds of cooperation between our two countries,” President Bio said in an official tweet.
He also used the occasion to reaffirm his determination to work closely to further advance and deepen the shared values and ambitions of the two
countries.
The United Arab Emirates is a federation of seven Emirates formed on 2nd December, 1971. The late His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan was the country’s
first President also known as Father of the Nation for his role in the formation of the UAE. The current President is His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The Government has declared a two-day holiday to allow citizens and residents celebrate the tremendous successes and achievements of the gulf-state, as part of the
51st Anniversary.
Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to the UAE, Rashid Sesay noted: “I join my President Dr. Julius Maada Bio to express appreciation to the UAE for the great relations and
to wish the leadership and people of this great nation continued peace and prosperity”.
The UAE is home to thousands of Sierra Leoneans. It is also a popular trading and tourist destination for Sierra Leoneans. At Governmental level, Sierra Leone and
the UAE enjoy strong bonds of friendship and continue to collaborate in various areas of shared interest, including health, security, education and agriculture.
For More Enquiries:
Mohamed Lamin Massaquoi
Information Attachè, Sierra Leone Embassy, United Arab Emirates
+971 50 2089695
Email: massaquoi@slembassyuae.com
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Tuesday 15 November 2022 - Sierra Leone’s First Lady, Her Excellency Dr. Fatima Maada Bio has joined
colleague African First Ladies at the opening ceremony of the 9th Edition of the Merck Foundation Conference, where she presented key interventions undertaken by Sierra Leone to tackle sexual and
gender-based violence.
Delivering her keynote address, the Sierra Leone First Lady said she was pleased to attend the Conference which sought to highlight and discuss issues affecting
women and girls. She said that realizing the need to protect women, Her Office, in 2018 launched the “Hands Off Our Girls” Program, an initiative geared towards putting an end to rape, early
marriage, teenage pregnancy and other forms of violations perpetuated against women and girls.
Madam Bio also spoke about the ongoing construction of a 500-bed hospital in Sierra Leone, undertaken by Her Office, to support healthcare delivery and to bolster
the country’s healthcare infrastructure, adding that when completed, the facility would provide quality healthcare services to her people. Her Excellency used the gathering to thank the Merck
Foundation for training 42 medical doctors from Sierra Leone in various areas of specialization and also paid tribute to healthcare workers across the African continent for their resilience,
particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Aside her interventions at national level, Dr. Fatima Maada Bio is also globally acclaimed as a champion for women’s empowerment. Recently, she led an advocacy at
the United Nations for the adoption of a Special Day for African First Ladies to commemorate victims of sexual violence, which attracted huge endorsements from various stakeholders, notably the
Catholic Church. The Resolution was unanimously adopted by the United Nations with the 18th November set aside annually to remember sexual violence victims. This landmark achievement has been
applauded across the world.
Merck Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA, Germany that seeks to promote and improve health and wellbeing of people and advance their lives through
science and technology.
Chief Executive Officer of Merck Foundation and President of “More than a Mother” campaign, Senator Dr. Rasha Keleji thanked the First Ladies for attending the
first edition since the start of the pandemic. She noted notwithstanding the challenges posed by the pandemic, the Foundation continued its work in building capacity, raising awareness and delivering
successes and improvements. The CEO also mentioned that the Conference provided an opportunity to showcase their achievements and assess impacts of their programs in different
countries.
Chairman of Executive Board of E. Merck KG and Merck Foundation Board of Trustees, Prof. Dr: Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp commended the First Ladies for their
efforts in supporting the health sector in many ways, especially through boosting the capacities of healthcare workers in their respective countries.
“Good healthcare is a major driver of economic growth and social progress. We also want to thank your efforts in supporting girl-child education in your countries.
We strongly believe that raising educated girls means stronger women, families and countries,” he said, while assuring that they would continue to support programs that build the capacity of
underprivileged women and girls.
Other keynote speakers at the event included the First Ladies of Botswana, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, The Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique,
Namibia, Zambia, Angola and Central Africa Republic.
For more enquiries:
Mohamed Lamin Massaquoi
Information Attaché
Sierra Leone Embassy, United Arab Emirates
+971 50 2089695
Email: massaquoi@slembassyuae.com
Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, Wednesday 16 November 2022 - Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Rashid Sesay has met
with players and officials of the Sierra Leone National Men’s Football Team, Leone Stars at their Fujairah training camp.
The Squad is in the United Arab Emirates on training and preparation exercises ahead of the upcoming AFCON qualifiers. While in the UAE, they are expected to play
some friendly matches.
Addressing the squad, Ambassador Sesay said that he was delighted to welcome the National side into the country, adding the essence of his visit was to recognise
their effort for raising the country’s footballing profile and to also inspire them to continue doing more.
“We are proud that you have done extremely well by taking the country to the continental top-tier competition earlier this year. It is always a national duty to
play for this team and I will urge you to continue giving your best. I will also like to encourage you all to serve as good representatives of Sierra Leone because every individual conduct matters a
lot on the outlook of our country,” he said.
He commended President Julius Maada Bio and the Government for the strong commitment towards sports development in Sierra Leone and also thanked the Minister and
the entire technical staff for their effort.
Leone Star’s Captain, Steven Caulker said: “We want to continue making Sierra Leone proud. Thank you for taking time off to come and visit us.”
Also present was the Minister of Sports, Ibrahim Nyelenkeh, who is leading the delegation.
For More Enquiries:
Mohamed Lamin Massaquoi
Information Attachè, Sierra Leone Embassy, United Arab Emirates
+971 50 2089695
Email: massaquoi@slembassyuae.com
No UAE Visa Ban on Sierra Leoneans
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Thursday 27 October, 2022 - The attention of the Sierra Leone Embassy in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has
been drawn to social media reports claiming that the UAE Government has issued a visa ban on Sierra Leoneans and several other African nationals. The Embassy wishes to state that it has
NOT received any information on same from official sources in the UAE and therefore considers the said report being circulated as false and misleading.
Meanwhile, the UAE has recently introduced series of visa reforms, including but not limited to the reduction of the duration of tourist visas from three months to
two months. Other new criteria for entry into the country can be found on the UAE Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security portal: www.icp.gov.ae
Consequently, we encourage all Sierra Leoneans planning to visit the UAE on tourism or business purposes to go ahead with their visa applications as
planned.
The Embassy would provide additional details on this issue if there is any further development.
-END-
For more enquiries:
Mohamed Lamin Massaquoi
Information Attaché
Sierra Leone Embassy, United Arab Emirates
+971 50 2089695
Email: massaquoi@slembassyuae.com
Website: www.slembassyuae.com
Twitter: @SierraLeonInUAE
Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, Sunday 21 August, 2022 - Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, UAE, has during the
inauguration ceremony of the new Sierra Leone Community Executive in the UAE, called on his compatriots to be united and serve as good ambassadors in order to promote and protect the good image of
the country.
Ambassador Rashid Sesay said he was pleased that the set of people who had been chosen possessed the requisite experience and integrity to lead the Sierra Leone
Community in the Emirates, adding that the executive was inclusive with people across the different Emirates and one with quality gender representation. He expressed optimism that the new executive
would carry themselves in an exemplary manner and work towards uniting the Sierra Leone Community.
“We are looking forward to working with you. We assure you of our support and I implore everyone to support this team in order to move the Sierra Leone Community in
the United Arab Emirates forward. Congratulations to the executive and we wish you all the best,” he said.
The Sierra Leone Envoy also used the opportunity to provide updates on recent developments in Sierra Leone and the strides and interventions being made by the
government to cushion the effects of the current global crisis on its citizens. He encouraged all Sierra Leoneans, especially those in the diaspora to use the social media responsibly to promote
peace, protect the good image of the country and project its enormous investment opportunities. He reminded the gathering that Sierra Leone was the only place they could call home, and therefore,
urged everyone to put the country’s interest and peace above personal ambitions.
Chairman of the Executive, Mohamed Gibrilla thanked the Ambassador and his team for the opportunity bestowed upon him and his colleagues to lead the Sierra Leone
Community, noting that the move was a huge honor which they were ready to defend in the best possible ways. He assured of their commitment to deliver on the mandate given to them and called on all to
support his executive.
For More Enquiries:
Mohamed Lamin Massaquoi
Information Attaché, United Arab Emirates
+971 50 208 9695
email: massaquoi@slembassyuae.com
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Tuesday 17 May 2022 - His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio has met with the new President of the
United Arab Emirates, UAE, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, where he congratulated him on his election as President of the UAE.
President Al Nahyan was on Saturday, 14th May, 2022 elected President by the UAE Supreme Council, following the death of the Late former President His Highness
Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan late last week.
During the meeting, President Bio conveyed his condolences to the People of the UAE and the bereaved family adding that the late President played significant role
in the nation’s building. He congratulated the new President and expressed hope that his leadership would continue to strengthen relations between the two countries.
On his part, President Mohamed bin Zayed commended President Bio for the visit, noting that the gesture meant so much, especially during the moment of grief. He
also spoke of the ongoing strides to deepen bilateral relations between the two countries.
Also at the meeting was UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Sierra Leone’s Ambassador
to the UAE, Rashid Sesay, members of the bereaved family and other top ranked officials of the UAE Government.
His Highness President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and President Julius Maada Bio enjoy very cordial and brotherly relationship. As the then Crown Prince of Abu
Dhabi, capital and one of seven Emirates of the UAE, President Zayed sent a high-level delegation to Sierra Leone which explored areas of cooperation between the two countries and signed several
agreements and Memoranda of Understanding in various sectors.
Currently, the UAE is also constructing the 100-bed Mohamed bin Zayed Field Hospital in Port Loko, Northern Sierra Leone, named after the new
President.
For More Enquiries:
Mohamed Lamin Massaquoi
Information Attaché, United Arab Emirates
+971 50 208 9695
email: massaquoi@slembassyuae.com
The first batch of personnel from the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces, RSLAF, and the Sierra Leone Police, SLP, has today completed a ten-week security
development training in the United Arab Emirates, UAE.
In his address at the event, Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to the UAE, Rashid Sesay congratulated the graduates for successfully completing the training adding that the
exercise would prepare them to perform their daily duties with improved skills. He expressed appreciation for the level of discipline and professionalism they had exhibited during the last ten weeks
and encouraged them to continue such virtues by serving as good examples upon their return.
He added: “You have to put what you have learnt into practice and I am sure with this training, you will be able to deliver on your mandates. On behalf of the
Government of Sierra Leone, I extend sincere gratitude and appreciation to the Government of the UAE for providing the support.”
The training started on the 15th February, 2022 and according to the instructors, the general performance was impressive and satisfactory. Awards were also
presented to the best performing officers.
Sierra Leone Embassy
United Arab Emirates
+971 50 2089695
21 April 2022
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Monday 11 April 2022 - Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to the United Arab
Emirates, Rashid Sesay has been awarded the Ambassador Siray Timbo Islamic Promotional Award for his selfless service to the furtherance of the Islamic faith.
The Award, named after the late Ambassador Siray Timbo is given annually to individuals and institutions who distinguish themselves in
promoting the Holy Quran and the Islamic doctrine.
Reading the citation at the Amphitheater on Fourah Bay College campus, the organisers, Foundation of Islamic Information Sierra Leone,
FOISIL said: “We are pleased with Ambassador Sesay’s support to Islam. Despite his position, he has always prioritised Islam and that is something many others can learn from. We are also pleased that
he has always supported our participants at the Annual Quranic Competition in Dubai, which has been a source of inspiration and motivation for our participants.”
Reacting to the award, Ambassador Sesay said he was excited to receive the recognition, particularly in the Holy Month of Ramadan. He
commended the organisers for their effort and dedication in promoting Islamic work in the country.
Former recipients of the prestigious award included the Honourable Vice President, Dr Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh; First Lady, Madam Fatima
Maada Bio, Leader of the Opposition APC in Parliament, Honourable Chernoh Maju Bah; AYV Media Empire, among many others.
For More Enquiries:
Mohamed Lamin Massaquoi
Information Attaché, United Arab Emirates
+971 50 208 9695
email: massaquoi@slembassyuae.com
Dhaka, Bangladesh, Thursday, 24 March 2022 - Sierra Leone’s non-resident High Commissioner to the People’s
Republic of Bangladesh has today presented his Letters of Credence to His Excellency Md. Abdul Hamid, Honorable President of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh during a ceremony held at the
Presidential Palace in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
High Commissioner Rashid Sesay is also Sierra Leone’s resident Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates.
Sierra Leone and Bangladesh have longstanding bilateral relations dating back to decades. One of its notable contributions to Sierra
Leone was the deployment of personnel, as part of the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission to the West African state during its civil war that ended in 2002. Sierra Leone and Bangladesh are also
members of a host of multilateral organizations including the Commonwealth.
During the ceremony, High Commissioner Sesay noted that: “I am happy to be here to contribute in strengthening the relations between our
two countries. Sierra Leone and Bangladesh share a lot and we are immensely grateful for your contribution through peacekeeping mission in our country.”
On his part, President Hamid conveyed his best wishes to the Government and People of Sierra Leone, adding that they were pleased to had
contributed to ending the decade-long civil war.
Bangladesh is a South Asian nation bordering India and Myanmar with an estimated population of over 164 million. Globally, Bangladesh is
renowned for its success in the agriculture and textile industries. It is ranked among the top global rice producing nations.
For More Enquiries:
Mohamed Lamin Massaquoi
Information Attaché
+971 50 208 9695
email: massaquoi@slembassyuae.com
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Friday 18 February, 2022 - Sierra Leone’s Ministers of Agriculture Forestry and Food
Security and Fisheries and Marine Resources have met with the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture, ICBA, in Dubai, where they spoke on the challenges and opportunities in Sierra Leone’s
agriculture and fisheries sectors.
Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Dr Abu Bakarr Karim, said that agriculture was an important component of Sierra Leone’s Human Capital
Development Agenda with a focus on increased food production. He noted despite the agricultural sector amounting for over seventy percent of the country’s workforce, there were still challenges in
terms of producing enough food for consumption and commercial purposes.
He said that his ministry had undertaken key policy shifts to create a friendly environment that would encourage private sector
investment, while also exploring the opportunities in research, technology and innovation in order to enhance value addition particularly during postharvest period to reduce the food insecurity
gap.
On her part, Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Hon. Emma Kowa Jalloh said that they were meeting to learn and share experiences
in order to improve the fisheries sector. She said they were challenged with protecting and conserving stocks for which her ministry was looking at investment in areas such as solar cold-rooms and
icemaking machines to preserve the quality of marine products. She also mentioned the need for capacity building particularly for women in repackaging and fisheries management.
Deputy Director General of ICBA, Dr Tarifa Ajeif Al Zaabi, said that they were focusing on providing solutions to food production to
match the growing global population. She mentioned they were open for partnership to deliver agricultural and water scarcity solutions in marginal environments. Dr Al Zaabi also assured their
willingness to partner with Sierra Leone through capacity building to achieve food and agricultural security.
Also in the meeting was Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Rashid Sesay, who commended ICBA for its ongoing projects
in Sierra Leone and expressed optimism for more collaboration in other priority areas.
The visiting delegation also took a conducted tour of the ICBA facilities especially its aquarium site. ICBA is a UAE-based non-profit
applied agricultural research center that works on sustainable livelihoods and food security in marginal environments.
For More Enquiries:
Mohamed Lamin Massaquoi
Information Attaché, United Arab Emirates
+971 50 208 9695
email: massaquoi@slembassyuae.com
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Thursday 3 February, 2022 - Minister of Health and Sanitation, Dr Austin Demby has met with the
leadership of the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, where he presented a comprehensive vision for Sierra Leone’s healthcare sector.
Speaking in the UAE capital, Dr Demby, who is leading a team from the Ministry of Health in Sierra Leone, said that their visit was to exchange ideas on best
practices for success in the health sector and to explore the opportunities that exist for partnership and collaboration to deliver on key initiatives and address some of the challenging issues
affecting healthcare delivery in Sierra Leone.
He noted the vision of Sierra Leone was to reposition the country as one capable of using modern and innovative technologies to cater for the health and wellbeing
of its people. He also spoke of plans to improve and digitalize his country’s national ambulance service to be more effective in order to improve on its services, adding that developing an effective
and robust health insurance scheme was another area of investment.
“We have invested a lot in primary healthcare services and this has increased accessibility to healthcare facilities across the country. What we are looking at now
is ensuring that those facilities have the requisite equipment and personnel to make services even better for our people. We also have an ambition to invest in a secondary and tertiary healthcare
system that is able to provide specialized services,” he said.
Director General of the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, H.E Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi, commended President Bio and his government for putting Human Capital at the
center of its development needs, noting the vision and strategies were well in place to benefit the people of Sierra Leone. He said that health in particular was an important component for building a
nation and assured that tapping on the bonds of relationship between the two countries, they would be ready to support Sierra Leone in its transformation process.
Earlier on, Minister Demby also met with the Undersecretary at the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention, H.E Dr. Mohammed Al Olama where they both discussed the
ongoing COVID-19 response, digital transformation in healthcare delivery and possible areas of collaboration between the two countries. He lauded the UAE leadership for its continuous support to
Sierra Leone. Dr Demby also commended Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to the UAE, Rashid Sesay for providing quality representation and fostering the ties between the two nations.
For More Enquiries:
Mohamed Lamin Massaquoi
Information Attaché, United Arab Emirates
+971 50 208 9695
email: massaquoi@slembassyuae.com
Expo Village, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Tuesday 1 February 2022 - Sierra Leone’s Minister of Health and Sanitation,
Dr Austin Demby has told the "Health and Wellness Business Forum" in Dubai that Sierra Leone is ready to play its part in achieving global health equity.
The Forum, which was organised by the EXPO 2020 Dubai and the Dubai Chamber of Commerce, brought together policy leaders, medical
practitioners and the private sector to discuss ways of partnership and collaboration in achieving universal equity in healthcare systems.
"For us in Sierra Leone, it's really important that we all become part of the solution and in being part of the solution, we really
need to be at the table where our voices will be heard," he said, adding that despite the challenges facing its health sector, Sierra Leone was having a very ambitious plan geared towards changing
that narrative.
He mentioned his country was looking at taking advantage of the opportunities presented in innovation, new technologies, human
resources for health and more importantly looking at health insurance to create better opportunities for all.
President of the Dubai Chambers, H.E Hamad Buamim, said that health and wellness were top priorities for governments around the world,
noting the Forum provided a platform for discussion on health issues from a business perspective.
"The UAE keeps attracting cuttingedge technologies and human development in the medical field. The success of EXPO 2020 Dubai, as the
main megaevent during COVID, sends a strong message that our country is open for business and can bring nations together to share knowledge and innovative solutions that address the global
challenges," he said.
Minister Demby was accompanied by his deputy, Mrs Princess Dugba and other senior members of the ministry.
For More Enquiries:
Mohamed Lamin Massaquoi
Information Attache, United Arab Emirates
+971 50 2089695
massaquoi@slembassyuae.com
New Delhi, India, Monday 13 December 2021 - Sierra Leone’s non-resident High Commissioner to the Republic of India has
presented his Letters of Credence to the Honorable President of the Republic of India, Ram Nath Kovind during a ceremony held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Presidential House in New Delhi.
Shortly after the presentation ceremony, High Commissioner Rashid Sesay held bilateral meeting with the Indian President where he
conveyed warm greetings from President Dr Julius Maada Bio to his Indian counterpart. He said that the two countries had enjoyed relationship spanning over decades and expressed appreciation to the
Government and People of India for its contributions to Sierra Leone particularly through the deployment of officers on peacekeeping mission during the country’s civil war.
High Commissioner Sesay noted that Sierra Leone acknowledged and welcomed the scholarship opportunities provided to its nationals by the
Indian Government saying that was within President Bio’s Human Capital Agenda. He said the visit of the Indian Vice President to Sierra Leone in late 2019 had helped to bolster and strengthen the
bonds of friendship and bilateral relations between the two nations adding that since the visit, there had been a lot of tangibles on both ends. He assured of Sierra Leone’s commitment to
strengthening the ties.
The Sierra Leone Envoy also conveyed President Julius Maada Bio’s condolences to the People of India for the death of the Late Indian
Chief of Defense Staff, General Bipin Rawat who was killed last week during an helicopter crash.
President Kovind recalled that in 2020, the Government of India opened a resident Mission in Sierra Leone as a show of their commitment
to deepen ties with the West African state. He said India remained one of the key trade partners to Sierra Leone and added that despite the COVID-19 pandemic, trade between the two countries had
grown. He said he was pleased that India had supported projects in Sierra Leone in several areas including education, power, water and agriculture.
“As you begin your journey as Sierra Leone’s High Commissioner to India, I wish you all success towards strengthening India-Sierra Leone
relations,” he ended.
Over the years, the South Asian country has provided a lot of assistance to Sierra Leone particularly in the fields of tertiary
education, healthcare delivery and agriculture. It also played an important role through peacebuilding and the post-war reconstruction process in Sierra Leone. It could be remembered that in October
2019, the Honorable Vice President of India, Shri Venkaiah Naidu visited Sierra Leone and met with His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio, during which they discussed relations between the two
countries and explored more avenues for deeper collaboration.
For More Enquiries:
Mohamed Lamin Massaquoi
Information Attaché
massaaquoi@slembassyuae.com
+971 50 2089695
New Delhi, India, Thursday 9 December 2021 - Sierra Leone’s non-resident High Commissioner designate to the Republic of
India, Rashid Sesay has arrived in New Delhi, capital of India ahead of the presentation of his Credentials.
The High Commissioner designate, who resides in Abu Dhabi capital of the United Arab Emirates, will meet with and present his Letters of
Credence to His Excellency Ram Nath Kovind, Honorable President of the Republic of India.
On the edges of his Indian visit, High Commissioner designate Sesay will address a high-level business forum organized by the Indian
Economic Trade Organization. During this session, which will bring together various economic actors in India, he is expected to discuss Sierra Leone’s investment climate as well as its enormous
investment potentials.
Over the years, the South Asian country has positioned itself as one of the global leaders in the fields of financial services, digital
technology, agriculture, vocational training and education, health and infrastructure. India remains one of the major trade partners with Sierra Leone, with a lot of Indian nationals involved in
economic activities in the country.
The Sierra Leone Envoy has also been invited as a Guest Speaker on the Occasion of the United Nations Human Rights Day on the 10th
December 2021. At this session, he is due to address a global audience on Sierra Leone’s post war democratic consolidation strides and President Julius Maada Bio’s stellar democratic credentials,
particularly in the areas of access to justice, rule of law, freedom of information and of the press, gender empowerment and inclusive governance.
For More Enquiries:
Mohamed Lamin Massaquoi
Information Attachè
+971 50 2089695
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Tuesday 23 November 2021 - Staff from the National Revenue Authority, Audit Service
Sierra Leone and the Bank of Sierra Leone are attending a 4-day Masterclass on Corporate and Board Governance together with participants from various African countries at the Sheraton Hotel in Dubai,
United Arab Emirates.
With the theme "Building a resilient and sustainable Board Post Covid-19", the training provides a comprehensive analysis on topics
like board strategy development, effective risk oversight, talent management, structuring and value addition, post pandemic risk environment, among many others.
During a brief visit, Sierra Leone's Ambassador to the UAE, Rashid Sesay said that he was pleased with the contents of the programme,
saying that would provide further knowledge into resource generation, mobilisation and management in Sierra Leone.
Chairperson, Board of Directors, National Revenue Authority and leader of delegation, Dr. Tuma Adama Gento-Kamara said that they were
excited to attend the training noting that the details of the course would equip them with the relevant skills to lead on a board level.
The Board and Corporate Governance Masterclass is an annual training course geared towards strengthing the ability of senior management
staff to serve the strategic governance needs of their institutions. This year's edition focused on post Covid-19 economic recovery strategies.
For More Enquiries:
Mohamed Lamin Massaquoi
Information Attachè, United Arab Emirates
+971 50 2089695
email: massaquoi@slembassyuae.com
Lungi International Airport, Port Loko district, Tuesday 9 November 2021 - Sierra Leone’s Minister of Health and
Sanitation, Dr Austin Demby has commended the Government and People of the United Arab Emirates for donating fifteen (15) tons of assorted medical supplies to assist victims of last week’s fire
disaster in Freetown.
Receiving the items at the Lungi International Airport, Dr. Demby said that they were pleased with the timely response from the UAE in
supporting Sierra Leone during a time of need. He said that the moment was a hard one for Sierra Leoneans particularly the affected families and therefore encouraged everyone to join the national
effort to provide care and comfort for both the victims and the families of the deceased.
He mentioned that since the incident, the Government had been able to deploy all of its local resources and commended medical doctors
and all frontline workers involved in the response. The Health Minister also lauded Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to the UAE, Rashid Sesay for promptly engaging the UAE authorities, while describing him
as a strong advocate for Sierra Leone in the UAE. He assured that the Government would do all its best to ensure that survivors recover fully.
Chief of Corporate Services at the National Disaster Management Agency, Kai Banya, noted that his institution was happy for the
assistance from the UAE, saying that would form part of their recovery programme.
Sierra Leone and the UAE enjoy longstanding bilateral relations and this has been accelerated by the Government of President Julius
Maada Bio.
For More Enquiries:
Mohamed Lamin Massaquoi
Information Attaché, United Arab Emirates
+971 50 208 9695
email: massaquoi@slembassyuae.com
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Monday 8 November 2021 - Delegates from the Government of Sierra Leone are
participating in the ongoing Africa Oil Week at the Madinat Jumeirah Hotel in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
During the event, which sought to discuss ways of transition from fossil fuel to renewable energy, Secretary General of the Africa
Continental Free Trade, AfCFT, H.E Wamkele Keabetswe, said that Africa must work hard to accelerate its industrialization so that its trade activities would focus on value added production. He
said core to that was reliable energy supply that would power the continent’s drive for industrialization. He added in order for the African market to become competitive regionally and globally,
there had to be energy availabilty and reliability.
He stated that the AfCFT sought to lay the basis for energy production and distribution in a way that would be even and fair across the
African continent and provide an opportunity for trade in energy to be done in accordance with regulations and emphasized they were looking forward to energy being the pillar to drive
industrialization within the region.
Sierra Leone’s Deputy Minister of Energy, Dr Eldred Tunde Taylor, who addressed a high-level Ministerial Symposium, said that through
numerous legal frameworks, Sierra Leone had been able to increase its energy access. He also said his country was part of the ongoing CLSG project that would be of benefit to countries within the
subregion. Dr Taylor also mentioned key reforms already undertaken in the energy sector to encourage private sector investment.
“Private capital investment into the energy space is very critical and because of that, we have encouraged so many private players to
come in and tap into that space. We are providing incentives for our private sector and have made significant provisions for duty waivers to drive the expansion of the energy access rate in our
country,” he said.
Minister of State, Office of the Vice President, Madam Francess Piagie Alghali, said that the delegation would use the three-day Summit
to showcase Sierra Leone’s mineral, oil and gas and energy potentials.
Also at the event was Sierra Leone’s Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources, Musa Timothy Kabba, Ambassador to the United Arab
Emirates, Rashid Sesay and representatives from the Petroleum Directorate.
For More Enquiries:
Mohamed Lamin Massaquoi
Information Attaché, United Arab Emirates
+971 50 2089695
massaquoi@slembassyuae.com
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Tuesday 2 November 2021 - The Governments of the United Arab Emirates and the
Republic of Sierra Leone have today signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, that will allow close cooperation between the two countries in the field of manpower.
The MoU aimed to enhance the existing friendly relations through cooperation in the field of manpower to promote mutual benefits and
guide an institutional partnership between the two countries. The document demanded the creation of a joint committee to implement, monitor and evaluate its provisions.
The two parties also agreed to cooperate to ensure sound and effective administration of contract cycle through relevant technical and
human resource development cooperation and regulation of recruitment in accordance with fairness, transparency and mutual benefits.
During the signing ceremony at the EXPO Village in Dubai, UAE Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation, His Excellency Dr.
Abdulrahman Al Awar, said they were happy for the move and added that they were looking forward to practicalize the details of the MoU.
Sierra Leone's Ambassador to the UAE, Rashid Sesay, who signed on behalf of the Government of Sierra Leone, said the event was
historical as it marked the fruition of a long journey and expressed commitment on their part to implement the provisions of the document.
Shortly after the signing ceremony, the UAE Minister of Human Resources was taken on a conducted tour of the Sierra Leone Pavilion at
the EXPO 2020 Dubai. He was accompanied in honor by Ambassador Rashid Sesay.
For More Enquiries:
Mohamed Lamin Massaquoi
Information Attaché, United Arab Emirates
+971 50 2089695
massaquoi@slembassyuae.com
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Tuesday 26 October 2021 - The AsiaOne Magazine & URS Media International has today
conferred the “Knight of Honour Award" for Excellence in Diplomacy on Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Rashid Sesay during the 15th Edition of Asia Africa Business & Social
Forum: Awards & Business Summit at the JW Marriott Marquis Hotel in Dubai.
AsiaOne is an international media house and a pan-Asia Business & News magazine. They are pioneers and experts in research-based
listing of brands & leaders in Asia, Africa and the GCC.
Reacting to the award, Ambassador Sesay said that he was proud and honored to have received the award in recognition of his work. He
described Africa and Asia as partners in development, adding that there was a lot to be explored between the two continents. He also expressed willingness to engage partners in deeper levels in order
to foster more areas of collaboration.
For More Enquiries:
Mohamed Lamin Massaquoi
Information Attaché, United Arab Emirates
+971 50 2089695
massaquoi@slembassyuae.com
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Thursday 30 September 2021 - First Lady, Madam Fatima Maada Bio
has joined the United Arab Emirates leadership and participants from over 190 countries to officially open the Expo Dubai 2020 at the EXPO Village in Dubai.
During the event, UAE Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence and Commissioner General of the EXPO 2020 Dubai, His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan
Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, said that during the EXPO event, the UAE would share with the world their experiences noting that through connecting minds, they had been able to achieve milestones that seemed
impossible. He said the UAE had over the years focused its development on investing in human development, expanding infrastructure, economic diversification and creating opportunities for everyone to
grow and prosper.
“Our mere presence here, amid all the challenges the world is facing, is a proof of the keen commitment to make the world a better place
for all. By hosting EXPO, we aim to convey a message of tolerance and that we are willing to collaborate with the world,” he said.
Secretary General of the Bureau International Des Expositions, His Excellency Dimitri S. Kerkentzes, said that with more than 190
countries participating, the world was coming together for the first time since the pandemic to connect, exchange and learn on the extraordinary global stage, adding that the event would provide a
platform to showcase innovative and cutting-edge solutions to global challenges.
Reacting to the ceremony, Her Excellency Madam Fatima Maada Bio, who is leading Sierra Leone’s preparations for the EXPO, said that the
show was an opportunity for her country to showcase its rich and diverse culture to the world.
For More Enquiries:
Mohamed Lamin Massaquoi
Information Attachè, United Arab Emirates
+971 50 208 9695
email: massaquoi@slembassyuae.com
Ajman, United Arab Emirates, Tuesday 17 August 2021 - Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, UAE, has
called at the leadership of the Ajman Chamber to solicit support for Sierra Leone’s educational sector.
Ajman Chamber is a UAE-based entity which among other things, seeks to enhance close cooperation frameworks with institutions and
international bodies, as well as exchange experiences in relation to economic, technical and administrative matters.
At the meeting in Ajman, northern part of the UAE, Ambassador Rashid Sesay discussed the recent Memorandum of Understanding signed by the
two countries in the field of education and how that could further accelerate cooperation in the sector for the benefit of the two countries.
He noted education was the flagship program of Sierra Leone’s New Direction Government, adding that the Government was providing free
quality education to all children which had led to increased access and enrollment in schools as well as quality output.
He added despite the tremendous efforts, there were still challenges for which he was meeting to solicit support and discuss possible
areas of collaboration. On higher education, Ambassador Sesay mentioned his country was having high-performing students who would be interested in scholarship opportunities and exchange
programs.
He also stated that Sierra Leone was open for business and would welcome investment in areas of mining, agriculture, fisheries and
tourism. He said the untapped potentials in Sierra Leone were enormous and emphasized Government’s readiness to welcome investors.
Vice Chairman of the Ajman Chamber, Hamad Rashid Al Nuaimi, said it was a positive move that Sierra Leone was putting education at the
center of its development priorities. He spoke of the benefits education would bring to a nation, while assuring that they were willing to share experience to help the development of education in
Sierra Leone. He said that they would facilitate visits for Ambassador Sesay to some of the Universities in the Emirate of Ajman to explore collaborative areas with Universities in Sierra
Leone.
He also reiterated that with more collaboration, there were huge opportunities from which the two countries could benefit, particularly
in terms of trade and technical cooperation. He assured of their determination to explore more opportunities to boost the trade level between the two countries in the years to come.
For More Enquiries:
Mohamed Lamin Massaquoi
Information Attaché, United Arab Emirates
+971 50 208 9695
email: massaquoi@slembassyuae.com
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Tuesday 3 August 2021 - Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, UAE, has
met with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization to discuss matters relating to the welfare of Sierra Leonean employees in the UAE.
During the meeting in Abu Dhabi, capital of the UAE, Ambassador Rashid Sesay said he was thankful for the audience given to his team,
noting that his meeting was geared towards addressing some of the challenges faced by Sierra Leonean workers in the UAE. He said that his office had done series of engagements with Sierra Leoneans
living in the UAE and catalogued a host of labour related concerns gathered during that period.
He also spoke of the need to develop a framework through a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, that would help to foster collaboration
between the two countries on migration and other labour related issues. The Sierra Leone Envoy mentioned that they would be opened to the prospect of receiving experts from the UAE to train Sierra
Leoneans in specialized areas.
Ambassador Sesay again used the occasion to provide an update on the current COVID-19 situation in the country, adding that since the ban
on travelers from Sierra Leone to the UAE was announced, the West African state had made significant gains to control the spread of the virus and minimize its impacts. He therefore encouraged the UAE
authorities to consider the possibility of lifting the suspension.
Undersecretary of International Relations at the Human Resources Ministry, His Excellency Abdalla Al Nuaiuni, said that their work was to
manage bilateral relations, build bridges between countries and recruitment agencies and to facilitate recruitment processes taking into consideration the welfare of all nationals in the country. He
said that notwithstanding the pandemic, the UAE had seen a growth of Sierra Leonean migrants.
He said that they would be willing to resolve concerns emerging from Embassies, while stating their readiness to work with the Sierra
Leone Mission to harmonize labour issues and seek the welfare of workers. He also assured of their commitment to work on a MoU that would open the official channels for collaboration between the two
friendly countries.
For More Enquiries:
Mohamed Lamin Massaquoi
Information Attaché, United Arab Emirates
+971 50 208 9695
email: massaquoi@slembassyuae.com
Umm Al Quwain, United Arab Emirates, Wednesday 7 July 2021 - Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, UAE,
Rashid Sesay has met with the Sierra Leonean Community in Umm Al Quwain, in continuation of his engagement tour of the UAE.
Umm Al Quwain is one of seven Emirates of the UAE and sits on the North of the country with a considerable number of Sierra Leoneans,
mostly working in the manufacturing and hospitality sectors.
Delivering his address, the Sierra Leone Envoy said that the dialogue session was part of his drive to meet with Sierra Leoneans living
in all seven Emirates of the UAE to discuss their challenges, explain the role of the Embassy and provide them with the necessary information that would guide their stay in the Gulf
state.
He said that it was the responsibility of the Embassy to serve the interest of all Sierra Leoneans and assured that they were committed
to extending an helping hand to everyone on issues within their mandate and the laws of the host country.
Ambassador Sesay also spoke on several emerging issues of concern including visa acquisition and its various categories, overstaying,
passport expiration and the recent suspension from the UAE authorities on travelers from Sierra Leone. He also encouraged Sierra Leoneans to stay away from crimes and be law abiding, emphasizing that
their conducts would reflect on the image of the country.
Speaker after speaker commended the Ambassador and team for making time to meet with them while expressing the need for continuous
engagement.
For More Enquiries:
Mohamed Lamin Massaquoi
Information Attaché, United Arab Emirates
+971 50 208 9695
email: massaquoi@slembassyuae.com
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Tuesday 29 June 2021 - Sierra Leone’s Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Dr
Francis Kaikai, has told the Annual Investment Meeting organised by the United Arab Emirates, UAE, that Sierra Leone is an enabling environment and a reliable destination for investment.
With the theme “Africa Unlocked: Innovation and Sustainability as Drivers of Economic Growth”, the two-day virtual conference seeks to
explore the developmental potential of the African continent and highlight its huge opportunities that can serve as key sources of economic progress, not only for this region, but for the
world.
In his opening statement, His Excellency Sheikh Shakhboot Nahyan Al Nahyan, Cabinet Member and Minister of State in the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the UAE, said he was honoured to speak at the event to discuss economic progress between the UAE and Africa and to explore ways of further advancing
economic relations with their African partners. He expressed hope that the partnership would strengthen cooperation between public and private sectors and generate new avenues of
collaboration.
He mentioned their aim was to achieve progress and cooperation with their African brothers and sisters with a vision of fostering
prosperity and creating opportunities for future generations. He added renewable energy and food security were key pillars in which the UAE was committed to partnering with African nations to achieve
sustainable development and promote the welfare of their people.
Minister Kaikai said that Sierra Leone under the leadership of His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio was enthusiastic about
investment opportunities around the world and very desirous to ensure Sierra Leone benefitted from the global market of foreign direct investment. He noted the country was a member of regional and
sub-regional organisations which offered opportunity as an emerging market for modern and digital technology adding that that was an advantage for potential investors.
He said that Sierra Leone had developed friendly investment policy actions that included the setting up of an Investment Board in the
Office of the President to fast-track and unblock bottlenecks and more importantly to give investors the highest political leadership support, the reviewing of its Anti-Corruption laws to make them
responsive to investment and the reforming of the justice sector with specialized divisions-fast-track commercial courts to address commercial disputes more efficiently.
“Government of Sierra Leone is grateful to the UAE for our participation in this Annual Investment Meeting. I will therefore on behalf of
His Excellency the President use this opportunity to welcome potential investment partners to consider Sierra Leone as your immediate destination. The Government assures you all of an enabling
environment, reasonable returns for your shareholders but over and above all protection of your investment,” he ended.
Sheku Lexmond Koroma, Chief Executive Officer of the Sierra Leone Investment and Export Promotion Agency, also made a presentation on the
huge potentials in Sierra Leone noting that the country was peaceful, stable and ready for business.
The event attracted participants from 81 countries including government ministers, and other top public officials. It captured six key
pillars: Foreign Direct Investment, Small & Medium Enterprises, Future Cities, Start-ups, Foreign Portfolio Investment and One Belt, One Road to offer different dynamic activities that will
provide numerous benefits to various sectors.
For More Enquiries:
Mohamed Lamin Massaquoi
Information Attaché, United Arab Emirates
+971 50 208 9695
email: massaquoi@slembassyuae.com
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Tuesday 15 June 2021 - The Advisor to His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan
Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, UAE, has arrived in Freetown, capital of Sierra Leone ahead of a two-day visit; as part of continued efforts to deepen cooperation between the two
countries.
His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Bin Zayed, who doubles as the first son of the President of the UAE, is leading a 17-man
delegation which arrived on Tuesday, 15th June 2021. During the visit, he is expected to meet with His Excellency Dr Julius Maada Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone to discuss further
ways of strengthening relations as well as exploring investment opportunities between the two friendly nations.
Upon arrival at the Lungi International Airport, Dr Sheikh Sultan was received by Honorable Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Juldeh, Vice President of
the Republic of Sierra Leone. On the margins of the visit, the UAE Envoy will meet with some Heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies in a bid to foster collaboration. He is expected to depart
Freetown on Thursday, 17th June 2021.
Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to the UAE, Rashid Sesay said: “Sheikh Sultan is a widely respected figure in the UAE and the Middle East. I am
particularly excited about the visit because it will undoubtedly open more doors for foreign direct investments into our country which is a core vision of His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada
Bio”.
Dr. Sheikh Sultan is a double PhD holder from the University of Limerick, Republic of Ireland and the Nasser Higher Military Academy,
Egypt in 1998 and 1999 respectively. He has served in various high-ranking positions including Honorary Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Honorary Chairman of the
International Marine Sports Federation for the Middle East and Asia, President of Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club. His Highness was also a former member of the Executive Council for the
Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
For More Enquiries:
Mohamed Lamin Massaquoi
Information Attaché, United Arab Emirates
+971 50 208 9695
Email: massaquoi@slembassyuae.com
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Tuesday 4 May 2021 - The Government of the United Arab Emirates, UAE, has donated 50
tons of assorted food items to Sierra Leone, as humanitarian assistance to the West-African state during the Holy month of Ramadan.
Reacting to the gesture, Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to the UAE, Rashid Sesay, thanked the UAE leadership for the goodwill and their
continuous support to his country noting that that was a testament to the tremendous progress made over the years to strengthen the friendly relationship between Sierra Leone and the UAE.
The donated items; which included rice, cooking vegetable oil, flour among others; will depart Abu Dhabi, capital of the UAE, today
Tuesday 4th May via a special Etihad Cargo flight and is expected to arrive in Lungi International Airport tomorrow Wednesday 5th May.
It is worth noting that the UAE has been a supportive partner to the Government and people of Sierra Leone, especially in the areas of
education, healthcare delivery and agriculture.
For More Enquiries:
Mohamed Lamin Massaquoi
Information Attaché, United Arab Emirates
+971 50 208 9695
email: massaquoi@slembassyuae.com
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Monday 22 March 2021 - Sierra Leone's Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, UAE, Rashid
Sesay, has met with the leadership of the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture, ICBA in Dubai, where he called for more support to Sierra Leone's agricultural sector.
ICBA is an UAE based international nonprofit agricultural research centre that is currently working on a four-year project in Sierra
Leone to increase agricultural productivity and incomes of households in salinity-affected communities.
The project also aimed to increase salt tolerant crops and associated best management practices, develop value chains for introduced
cropping systems and build capacity of farmers and extension workers in salinity-resilient and climate smart agriculture.
ICBA Acting Director General, Dr Tarifa Ajeif Al Zaabi, maintained that Sierra Leone was one of their countries of operations where they
were working towards creating an impact in local communities while keeping an eye on capacity building and research with community members. She noted that the visit was timely because it allowed
further engagement on more areas of collaboration.
She added their vision was to provide sustainable livelihoods and food security in marginal environments through advancing sustainable
food, feed and biofuel agri-technologies, promoting sustainable management of natural resources, enhancing agricultural value chains and providing climate change solutions.
On his part, Ambassador Sesay said that he had shown so much passion for the work done by the ICBA for which his team was visiting to
discuss their work in Sierra Leone and to explore other opportunities with a view to address the challenges faced by small scale farmers, as part of government’s commitment to improve the country’s
agricultural sector.
He mentioned Sierra Leone had established a National Seed Certification Agency that worked closely with farmers to ensure the provision
of improved variety of seeds to improve on food productivity. He also encouraged ICBA to provide more assistance to his country particularly for women and youth involved in
agriculture.
ICBA operates a modern research facility with a team of international scientists conducting applied research and development to improve
agricultural productivity and sustainability in marginal and saline environments.
For More Enquiries
Mohamed Lamin Massaquoi
Information Attachè, United Arab Emirates
+971 50 2089695
email: massaquoi@slembassyuae.com
Photo Credit: ICBA Dubai
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Wednesday 17 February 2021 - The Sierra Leone Embassy in the United Arab
Emirates, UAE, has today played host to the winner of the 2020 “Housemates Salone”, Ms. Saraih Conteh Roberts, who is on a week-long visit to the beautiful and touristic city of
Dubai.
Organized by the African Young Voices, AYV, and Africell Sierra Leone, the popular reality television show which attracted huge
following across the globe, among other things sought to empower young Sierra Leoneans with a view to market them to the world.
Sierra Leone's Ambassador to the UAE, Rashid Sesay, said that he was pleased to welcome Ms. Conteh Robert and congratulated her on the
landmark achievement. He said that the “Housemates Show” was a great initiative which aligned with the vision of the New Direction Government to empower young Sierra Leoneans and to rebrand the image
of the country.
While commending the organizers for putting together a very successful show, he also encouraged the winner to serve as a vehicle for
positive change and a model among other young Sierra Leoneans.
“I urge you to always put on the best and never drop off your guards. We want to encourage you to continue to shine and project the good
image of the country,” Ambassador Sesay said.
Ms. Saraih Conteh Robert, who recently got engaged at the prestigious and famous Burj Khalifa in Dubai to Victor Onie Williams, one of
twenty-two other contestants, said that she was honored to be hosted by Ambassador Sesay and team and commended the Sierra Leonean Envoy for the warm reception accorded her. She also expressed great
excitement that the Embassy was providing care and support for all Sierra Leoneans in that part of the world.
The star-price winner noted the contest was a very rigorous one which taught them the value of living together despite the differences
and encouraged her compatriots to emulate same, while assuring that she would put into good use her achievement to make the desired effect back home.
For More Enquiries:
Mohamed Lamin Massaquoi
Information Attaché, United Arab Emirates
+971 50 208 9695
Email: massaquoi@slembassyuae.com
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, UAE, Rashid Sesay, has told a
gathering in Abu Dhabi, capital of the UAE, that Sierra Leone was a perfect destination for investment with huge potentials in tourism.
Speaking as the Grand Chief Patron at the Reflective Arts Gallery Exhibition in honor of the birthday of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al
Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, the Sierra Leone Envoy said that his government was using tourism and arts as a means of tapping into the potentials of youth, creating jobs and marketing its
historical and cultural values to the world.
“Sierra Leone is blessed with wonderful beaches, historic and touristic sites for visitation and hospitable people ready to receive
tourists from around the world. Our country is stable and peaceful to visit at anytime with a government that is very serious about creating the right environment for investment,” he
noted.
Dr Nada Al Ameri, Founder of the Reflections Arts Gallery, said it was their honor to host Ambassador Sesay in recognition of the work of
their Leader, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. She mentioned that they were ready to visit Sierra Leone to explore the tourism prospects and to collaborate with their counterparts in
areas of shared interests.
"Your presence makes the difference with a special print to our upcoming projects in humanity to make strong bond between the Emirati and
the Sierra Leonean cultures in strengthening cooperation with associations in arts education and many fields," the creative visual arts designer said.
The Center is a creative hub established in 2017 to among other things, offer a range of arts programs, provide arts therapy tuition and
organize interactive arts related events both locally and internationally.
For More Enquiries:
Mohamed Lamin Massaquoi
Information Attaché, United Arab Emirates
+971 50 208 9695
Email: massaquoi@slembassyuae.com
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Thursday 4 February 2021 - Authorities in the United Arab Emirates, UAE, have confirmed
the construction of 100 beds field hospital in Sierra Leone to support the country's COVID-19 response.
In an official communication sent to the Sierra Leone Embassy in Abu Dhabi, the UAE authorities said: “The UAE will establish the Sheikh
Mohammed bin Zayed Field Hospital to reinforce and compliment the efforts of the Government of Sierra Leone to confront the pandemic. This hospital is expected to contain 100 beds to treat people
with COVID-19 in Sierra Leone.”
Responding to the latest development, Sierra Leone's Minister of Defence and National Coordinator of the COVID-19 Response, Brigadier
(Rtd.) Kellie Hassan Conteh, said that they were excited about the gesture from the UAE Government. He noted they were looking forward to receiving the construction team and ensuring the successful
implementation of the project.
Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to the UAE, Rashid Sesay, stated that the gesture was as a result of the brotherly relationship between His
Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone.
The 100 beds facility, which would be constructed in Port Loko district, North-West Sierra Leone, would help the country’s COVID-19
response and also boost its healthcare service delivery. The hospital is expected to be completed in early April this year.
For More Enquires:
Mohamed Lamin Massaquoi
Information Attachè, United Arab Emirates
+971 50 208 9695
Email: massaquoi@slembassyuae.com
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Wednesday 20 January 2021 - Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, UAE,
Rashid Sesay has joined colleague diplomats, business leaders and many others in the UAE on the Terra - Sustainability Pavilion Premier, one of the thematic pavilions of the Expo 2020 in
Dubai.
The showcase event was an initiative to preview the thematic pavilions and help preparations, as part of readiness for the start of the
Expo 2020 in Dubai.
Marjan Faraidooni, Chief Experience Officer of Expo 2020 Dubai, said “Expo 2020 aims to be one of the most sustainable World Expos in
history and supports efforts as a champion of green development, so it is fitting that our first visitors will enjoy a preview of the Sustainability Pavilion – an interactive and personal experience
that will highlight the urgency of addressing some of the world’s greatest environmental challenges.”
Scheduled for October 1st 2021 to March 31st 2022, the Expo Dubai 2020 is a unique global platform to attract investments, forge
agreements and promote international cooperations, especially in social, cultural, science and technology.
Sierra Leone would be among hundreds of other participating nations and this platform would help Sierra Leone to present and attract
potential investment areas in the country, especially in tourism, agriculture, mining and energy.
For More Enquiries:
Mohamed Lamin Massaquoi
Information Attachè, United Arab Emirates
+971 50 2089695
email: massaquoi@slembassyuae.com
Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, Wednesday 18 November 2020 Sierra Leone's Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, UAE, Rashid Sesay, has met with the Chairman of
Department of the Sharjah Charity International,
Saqr Bin Mohd. Bin Khalid Al Qassimi, to discuss development opportunities for Sierra Leone.
Sharjah Charity International was established in 1989 and aims to promote a culture of care and sponsorship for those who are entitled to it and increase community
awareness. Since its establishment, it has supported 110 countries around the world, and nearly 6,000 families with low incomes and poor citizens of the state and residents.
Ambassador Sesay said that Sierra Leone was very interested in working with partners to transform the small West-African nation. He said that the government was
working very hard to improving the lives of its citizens, for which, he noted they were looking forward to working with them.
He stated that the government was investing hugely on human capital development through the provision of free quality education for every child and requested more
supports, especially in the construction of schools and other learning facilities.
Ambassador Sesay, among other things, also spoke of the need for support in improving healthcare delivery, particularly in rural areas adding that that was a huge
challenge in Sierra Leone. He pleaded for support in that area through constructing and equipping medical centres in rural communities.
"We look forward to assistance in the areas of water and sanitation and skills training and development programmes for underprivileged women, mostly in remote
communities," he said.
Chairman, Saqr Bin Mohd. Bin Khalid Qassimi, said that they were focused on investing in developmental projects that would directly benefit communities. He said that
they were looking forward to working with Sierra Leone and assured of their support to the country's development agenda.
Ambassador Sesay also paid a working visit to the Amity University in Dubai, where he discussed possibilities of having exchange programmes with Sierra Leonean
Universities as well as establishing a campus in Sierra Leone.
For More Enquiries
Mohamed Lamin Massaquoi
Information Attachè, United Arab Emirates
+971 50 2089695
email: massaquoi@slembassyuae.com
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Thursday 12 November 2020 - Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, UAE, Rashid Sesay has engaged members
of the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children, DFWAC, on issues surrounding tackling human trafficking and domestic violence.
Established in 2007, DFWAC, offers immediate protection and support services for women and children in the UAE against domestic violence, child abuse and human
trafficking. It is the first licensed non-profit shelter in the UAE that runs specifically for the care of women and children.
Ambassador Sesay thanked the leadership of DFWAC for hosting his delegation and for their relentless efforts in tackling human trafficking and domestic violence,
noting that that aligned with the vision of the Government of Sierra Leone as espoused in the New Direction Manifesto and the Medium Term National Development Plan.
He said that the Government of Sierra Leone had placed emphasis on the role of women and children in its development process and highlighted major strides already
taken by the Government in combatting rape, sexual violence and all forms of domestic violence ranging from the declaration of a State of Emergency on Rape and Sexual Violence, amendment of the
Sexual Offences Act, the establishment of a Special Court for Rape cases and the establishment of One-Stop Centres.
“Our Government takes issues of human trafficking very serious and over the years we have made significant gains in reducing its impact on our country. The DFWAC is
doing so much to close the gap on human trafficking and we are committed to collaborate with you and to tap into your enormous experience. We also look forward to receiving support for our women who
are being misled hence becoming victims of trafficking,” he said.
DFWAC Care and Social Services Director, Ghanima Hassan Al Bahri, said that the UAE was a committed and responsible member of the international community that had
been proactive in the global fight to combat human trafficking. She noted their mission, among other things, was geared towards provision of housing and rehabilitation services to women and
children victims of violence and strengthening local and international partnerships.
For More Enquiries:
Mohamed Lamin Massaquoi
Information Attachè, United Arab Emirates
+971 50 2089695
email: massaquoi@slembassyuae.com
ABU DHABI, 23rd
February, 2019 (WAM) - The Emirates Red Crescent, ERC, has launched a number of development
projects in the Republic of Sierra Leone, under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and
the follow-up of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in Al Dhafra Region and the ERC Chairman.
The projects included the provision
of water resources in water-scarce areas, where the project provides 60 percent of the needs of these areas with clean water. It also includes the construction of houses for underprivileged families,
as well as schools, clinics, mosques, and other service projects aimed at improving the lives of the population.
The inauguration ceremony was
attended by the ERC delegation comprising Fahad Abdelrahman bin Sultan, ERC's Deputy Secretary-General for International Aid and Cooperation, and others, Dr. Jonathan Bonopha Tengbe, Minister of
Water Resources in Sierra Leone, Rashid Sesay, Ambassador of Sierra Leone to the UAE, along with a number of officials.
Dr. Mohammed Ateeq Al Falahi,
Secretary-General of the ERC, said that the directives of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed were a part of the initiatives undertaken by the leadership to develop and reconstruct areas that suffer from vital
development.
Dr. Al Falahi said that Sheikh
Hamdan bin Zayed is constantly monitoring the progress of all the projects implemented by the ERC needed by brotherly and friendly countries.
He added that the authority has
completed these projects in record time to achieve the vision of the country's leadership and to meet the needs of Sierra Leone’s citizens to alleviate their suffering.
The beneficiaries expressed their
appreciation to the UAE for their ongoing efforts in carrying out several development projects, especially in relation to water projects and other services.
Meanwhile, Vice President of Sierra
Leone, Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, received the ERC delegation in the presence of Jonathan Tengbe, where they discussed the impact of humanitarian projects undertaken by the ERC on the local community and
the other projects they will implement in the future.
The Sierra Leone Vice President
thanked the ERC for its sincere efforts to meet the humanitarian and development needs of the people. He affirmed his country's readiness to remove obstacles facing the ERC’s humanitarian
work.
Tengbe expressed his thanks to the
ERC for its significant humanitarian efforts and also commended the UAE.
Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, the Mayor of
Freetown, also welcomed the ERC delegation.
WAM/Rola Alghoul/Tariq
alfaham
http://wam.ae/en/details/1395302741958
Print