A high-level team from the British High Commission in Freetown has met with officials of the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED) and toured the ECOWAS Logistics Depot in Lungi as part of efforts to strengthen cooperation and boost regional security initiatives.
The delegation, led by Deputy High Commissioner Kathleen Reid, included Kezia Exley, Deputy Sahel Envoy; Hamish Tye, UK Political Envoy to ECOWAS; Christopher Howells, Political Secretary; and Amalara Jalloh, Political Officer.
The visit focused on deepening UK-ECOWAS collaboration and exploring new avenues for support toward fully operationalizing the Logistics Depot. Discussions highlighted training, technical assistance, staffing, and other capacity gaps affecting the facilityโs readiness.
Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Madam Kenyeh Barlay, welcomed the delegation and praised the UK for its continued support, noting that the engagement comes at a crucial time as Sierra Leone chairs ECOWAS and prepares to host major regional events, including the 2026 ECOWAS Summit.
She reaffirmed the governmentโs priorities under President Julius Maada Bio, including strengthening democratic governance, promoting economic integration, restoring constitutional order, and advancing regional security.
The minister also cited notable diplomatic engagements undertaken by President Bio with leaders of Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Guinea, efforts she said reflect Sierra Leoneโs commitment to regional stability.
Madam Barlay further pointed to progress and persistent challenges in operationalizing the depot, emphasizing urgent needs such as staffing, furniture, equipment, and other logistical requirements.
Mr. Komba Momoh, Deputy Development Secretary III and Head of the ECOWAS National Office, highlighted the need for enhanced capacity-building and technical expertise.
He noted that such support would align with ECOWASโ plan to begin recruiting civilians for peace support operations.
The British team shared examples of ongoing UK assistance to other ECOWAS states, ranging from communications capacity-building to training for peacekeeping operations and diplomatic information management.
During the tour of the Lungi facility, the delegation expressed satisfaction with the level of development achieved so far, commending Sierra Leone for the quality and scale of the infrastructure and describing the depot as a promising regional asset.
Dr. Robert Moikowa, Technical Adviser at the ECOWAS National Office, explained that ECOWAS continues to prioritize conflict resolution, resilience building, and the transition from crisis to sustainable peace across the region.
The visit ended with a guided tour led by Minister Barlay, ECOWAS Resident Representative John Azumah, and the UK delegation, who assessed priority areas where the United Kingdom could further support the depotโs development.
