By Festus J. Lahai
Sierra Leone is one of the first African countries to have established bilateral relations with the Soviet Union in 1962 post-independence, and for 58 years now, both countries have benefited from a variety of diplomatic opportunities and trade, including Sierra Leone’s support to the Russian Federation at international organisations. Both countries have been supporting each other in various sectors: Mining, Trade, Energy, Transportation and Human Capital Development.
Both Sierra Leone and Russia share similar rebranding values. While the Government of Sierra Leone aims at rebranding the image of the country through economic growth and development, the Government of Russia is strengthening its relationship with Africa through partnerships and investment opportunities.
Sierra Leone has provided an opportunity for Russian Mining Companies to operate in the West African country. It is significant to note that Russian Mining Companies has played a significant role in creating jobs for young people and adhering to their Corporate Social Responsibility to communities where they operate, as well as fulfilling their tax obligations to the Government.
On 16th September 2020, the Ministry of Trade and Industry in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation hosted an “Accelerated Growth and Investment Summit in Freetown”. The two-day summit was conducted as a result of Ambassador Yongawo’s strategic engagement in the Russian Federation. The meeting brought together a Consortium of Major International Investors, including Inova Capital and Allied Identity.
These investors proposed $3.7 billion as ‘direct foreign investment’ into the Sierra Leone economy: Energy, E-Health, E-Education and infrastructure were identified as key areas for investment.
During the Russia-Africa Summit, His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio discussed with his counterpart President Vladimir Putin on multiple business opportunities from which both sides can benefit and among those opportunities discussed was Energy reformation. A committee was set up immediately and on the 25th August 2020 the first joint meeting was organised by the Minister of Energy Alhaji Kanja Sesay, who doubled as Team Lead, and the Deputy Minister of the Russian Federation, Mr. Sorokin Pavel Yurievich headed the Russian team.
During the meeting, the two countries discussed the present state of their cooperation and discussed further on the possibilities of deepening it in the spheres of Fuel and Energy. The sides exchanged views on the promising projects that were discussed during the Working-Group meeting. Both countries also discussed Oil and Gas projects.
At the end of the Russia-Africa Leaders’ Summit in Sochi, Russia, President Bio discussed with his Russian counterpart on how Russia can be of help in the Transportation Sector in Sierra Leone.
President Putin immediately promised to send 200 Garbage Trucks to strengthen Sierra Leone’s Waste Management Sector, and 50 of those trucks were commissioned by President Julius Maada Bio on 1st December 2020 in Freetown.
To further strengthen the transportation sector, Ambassador Mohamed Yongawo is also in talks with the GAZ Manufacturing Company to help Sierra Leone with busses.
Over 2000 Sierra Leoneans have benefited from Russian scholarship both Undergraduates and Post-Graduates over the years.
Upon his appointment as Ambassador to the Federation, HE Yongawo renegotiated with RUDEN and other Universities for more slots to be awarded to deserving Sierra Leonean students to be trained in the field of Medicine, Security, Engineering, etc.
In 2018, 14 scholarships were awarded and 40 in 2020. However, Coronavirus halted students to travel to Russia but they are in Sierra Leone taking online lectures.
A letter has been sent to the Students’ Desk at the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education for admission into the 2021-2022 Academic Year.
