Sierra Leone’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Madam Francess Piagie Alghali, on Saturday 9th November, 2024, held a fruitful bilateral meeting with her counterparts on the sidelines of the first Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Summit in Sochi, Russian Federation.
Madam Alghali met with Mikhail Bogdanov, the Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for the Middle East and African Countries, and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia.
Her Excellency Madam Alghali conveyed greetings from His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio, Foreign Minister Timothy Musa Kabba, who could not attend due to unforeseen circumstances, and the people of Sierra Leone.
“I also want to say that Sierra Leone cherishes our bilateral relations with Russia, which have been strong for the past 63 years, dating back to the Soviet era,” Her Excellency said.
Madam Alghali also expressed her anticipation for the reopening of the Russian Embassy in Freetown and assured her Russian counterparts that Sierra Leone is ready to offer any support needed for the embassy’s reopening.
The reopening of the Russian Embassy in Freetown, the Deputy Foreign Minister added, will lay the groundwork for further partnership, cooperation and collaboration between the business communities, and citizens of both nations.
Madam Alghali called on her counterpart to increase the visibility of Russian business in Africa, recalling that there was once a Russian sugar company operating in Sierra Leone under the Russia-Sierra Leone Cooperation many years ago.
Her Excellency Madam Alghali also outlined President Bio’s Five Big Game Changers and called on Russia to continue its support in investing in human capital development and agriculture, which will significantly contribute to food production in Sierra Leone.
Her Excellency concluded by thanking the Russian Federation for its support to Sierra Leone in both multilateral and bilateral relations, recalling Russia’s assistance during the Ebola outbreak, and the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as its support through scholarships and the provision of dump trucks.
In response, Mikhail Bogdanov, the Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for the Middle East and African Countries, and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia, expressed his satisfaction with the ongoing high-level contacts and cooperation between Sierra Leone and Russia.
He thanked Ambassador Mohamed Yongawo for his friendly relations with his office and with him personally, noting that Ambassador Yongawo is highly respected among his colleagues and is committed to enhancing Russia-Sierra Leone bilateral relations.
His Excellency Bogdanov reiterated President Putin’s commitment to reopening the Russian Embassy in Freetown.
The two diplomats also discussed various issues related to multilateral, bilateral, and regional concerns, including deepening political dialogue, global security, stability, and strengthening bilateral relations between the two friendly countries, Russia and Sierra Leone.
Accompanying the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation were His Excellency Ambassador Mohamed Yongawo, Mr. Mustapha Bamorie Turay, NMA Board Chairman, Mr. Mohamed Conteh, Director of Legal Affairs, and Mr. Ibrahim Saspo Sankoh, Head of Chancery at the Embassy in Moscow.
Credit: Festus J. Lahai
Information Attache’
Moscow, Russian Federation
