Nouakchott–Oumtounsy International Airport, Nouakchott, Mauritania, Monday, 15 June 2026
Sierra Leone’s President Dr Julius Maada Bio, Chairman of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government and President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, has arrived safely in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania at the invitation of President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani.
President Bio is accompanied by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, His Excellency Dr Omar Alieu Touray, and former Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Hon. Mohamed Sidi Tunis.
The visit forms part of ongoing regional efforts to strengthen cooperation and coordinate responses to the evolving security challenges confronting West Africa and the Sahel region.
During the visit, President Bio and President Ghazouani will hold high-level consultations on the security situation in the Sahel, with discussions expected to focus on terrorism, violent extremism, transnational organised crime, and illicit trafficking, threats that continue to undermine peace, stability, and sustainable development across the region.
As Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority, President Bio has prioritised dialogue, regional cooperation, and collective action in addressing emerging security concerns and promoting lasting peace throughout West Africa.
Upon arrival at Nouakchott–Oumtounsy International Airport, President Bio was warmly received by President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, alongside senior officials of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Mauritanians Abroad, Mohamed Salem Merzoug.
The visit underscores the strong partnership between ECOWAS and Mauritania and reflects a shared commitment to enhancing regional security cooperation, fostering stability, and advancing peacebuilding efforts across the Sahel and the wider West African sub-region. #SierraLeone
Credit: State House Media and Communications Unit
