Vice President, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, has reaffirmed the strong relationship between Sierra Leone and Guinea following high-level discussions aimed at expanding cooperation on border security, migration, trade and the welfare of citizens.
The Vice President made the statement following his official visit to Conakry, Guinea, on September 9, 2026, where he led a senior Government delegation in talks with Guinean Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah and other senior officials.
“My recent visit to Guinea reaffirmed the strong ties between our two countries and our shared commitment to greater cooperation on border security, migration and trade,” Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh stated.
He thanked Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah for the hospitality extended to the delegation and described their discussions as productive.
“I extend my gratitude to Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah for his warm hospitality and productive engagement. I look forward to building on our discussions and further strengthening the longstanding relationship between Sierra Leone and Guinea,” he added.
The visit also featured a major civic town hall meeting with more than 250 Sierra Leoneans at the Sierra Leone Embassy in Conakry. The engagement brought members of the community face-to-face with the Vice President, Cabinet Ministers and senior Government officials.
Chaired and moderated by Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah, the meeting formed an important part of the Government’s high-level working visit. It allowed Sierra Leoneans living in Guinea to receive direct information about the outcomes of discussions between officials of the two neighbouring countries.
Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to Guinea, Foday Yumkella, hosted the event, which provided a platform for open dialogue on issues affecting the safety, livelihoods, legal status and general welfare of Sierra Leoneans living and working in Guinea.
Addressing the gathering, Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh explained that the delegation began its visit by expressing solidarity with the Government and people of Guinea following the recent deadly landfill collapse that claimed several lives, including those of Sierra Leonean nationals.
He extended condolences to the affected families, particularly Sierra Leoneans who lost loved ones in the tragedy. He also commended the Guinean authorities for their response and the support provided to affected Sierra Leonean families.
Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh thanked the Sierra Leonean community for remaining patient while the two Governments work to address longstanding and emerging challenges affecting citizens living, working and conducting businesses across the common border.
The town hall followed discussions between the delegation and Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah, as well as subsequent inter-ministerial engagements involving senior officials from both countries.
During the meeting, Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh outlined the major outcomes of the bilateral talks. The discussions covered residence and employment documentation, consular registration and protection, cross-border trade, immigration, border cooperation and arrangements for safer overseas employment travel.
Both countries reaffirmed the principle of free movement for Sierra Leonean and Guinean nationals while agreeing to improve documentation, consular protection and the formalization of employment and commercial activities.
Particular attention was given to concerns surrounding organized overseas employment travel involving large groups passing through the airports of both countries.
The Government explained that temporary measures being developed are intended to protect citizens from unsafe or irregular recruitment, human trafficking, migrant smuggling, exploitation and mass deportation while stronger safeguards are being established.
Officials assured the community that the objective is not to restrict lawful travel but to ensure that Sierra Leoneans travelling abroad for employment do so through safer and properly regulated channels.
Minister Chernor Bah said the town hall ensured that Sierra Leoneans living in Guinea are not only represented during official negotiations but are also directly informed about decisions affecting their lives.
The engagement included an interactive question-and-answer session, during which community members raised concerns directly with the Government delegation. The Vice President, Ministers and Ambassador Foday Yumkella responded to the questions and clarified issues raised by participants.
The bilateral framework also provides for an inter-ministerial mechanism involving institutions responsible for internal affairs, employment, foreign affairs and trade. Ambassador Foday Yumkella will continue serving as a key diplomatic contact between the Sierra Leonean community and the relevant authorities.
Representatives of the Sierra Leone Union in Guinea thanked Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh and the delegation for meeting the community and listening to its concerns. The organisation presented him with a special honorary membership card in recognition of his engagement with Sierra Leoneans in Guinea.
Vice President Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh expressed appreciation for the honour and encouraged Sierra Leoneans to remain peaceful, law-abiding and constructive members of their host communities while maintaining the historic bonds between the two countries.
The event ended with more than 250 Sierra Leoneans joining the Vice President and Government delegation in a spirited rendition of Sierra Leone’s National Anthem.
The delegation included Minister of Internal Affairs, Morie Lengor; Minister of Employment, Labour and Social Security, Umaru Napoleon Koroma; Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah; Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Jeneba Bangura; and Ambassador Foday Yumkella.
