President Dr. Julius Maada Bio has reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations, regional cooperation and international partnerships after receiving the Letters of Credence of newly accredited envoys from Nigeria, Jamaica and Angola during a formal ceremony at State House.
The ceremony, held on Thursday, 9 July 2026, also included the presentation of the Letters of Recall of the diplomats’ predecessors, officially recognizing the new representatives of their respective countries to Sierra Leone.
The newly accredited diplomats are Her Excellency Ayo Luther Ogbomode, High Commissioner of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Sierra Leone; His Excellency Lincoln George Downer, High Commissioner of Jamaica to Sierra Leone, resident in Abuja, Nigeria; and His Excellency Dr. Eustáquio Januário Quibato, Ambassador of the Republic of Angola to Sierra Leone, resident in Conakry, Guinea.
Following the presentation of their credentials, the three envoys conveyed warm greetings and best wishes from their respective Heads of State and Government while expressing appreciation for the hospitality extended by the Government and people of Sierra Leone. They also reaffirmed their commitment to expanding cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
Speaking on behalf of Nigeria, High Commissioner Ayo Luther Ogbomode pledged to strengthen the long-standing relationship between Nigeria and Sierra Leone, particularly in regional security, democratic governance, economic cooperation and regional integration. She conveyed the warm greetings of Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and expressed her commitment to further deepening bilateral ties during her tenure.
Jamaica’s High Commissioner, Lincoln George Downer, highlighted the deep historical and cultural connections between the two countries, noting that his ancestral roots trace back to Sierra Leone’s Maroon heritage. He described Sierra Leone as his “second home” and expressed optimism about expanding cooperation in tourism, culture and investment.
Angola’s Ambassador, Dr. Eustáquio Januário Quibato, identified agriculture, mining and technical cooperation as priority sectors for enhanced collaboration between Angola and Sierra Leone, while thanking President Bio for accepting his credentials.
In his response, President Bio warmly welcomed the three diplomats on behalf of the Government and people of Sierra Leone and assured them of his administration’s full support throughout their diplomatic assignments.
Addressing Nigeria’s High Commissioner, President Bio described Nigeria as one of Sierra Leone’s closest and most dependable partners, paying tribute to the country’s historic contribution to restoring peace during Sierra Leone’s civil war through the ECOWAS Monitoring Group (ECOMOG).
He expressed appreciation for Nigeria’s continued support and requested that his warm regards be conveyed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. President Bio also expressed his desire to strengthen cooperation in security, democracy, good governance, regional integration, trade and economic development.
Welcoming Jamaica’s High Commissioner, the President underscored the unique historical and cultural ties shared by both nations and encouraged greater collaboration in people-to-people exchanges, tourism, culture and investment.
While receiving Angola’s Ambassador, President Bio encouraged stronger partnerships in agriculture, mining, skills development and technical cooperation, describing those sectors as central to Sierra Leone’s national development agenda.
President Bio assured all three diplomats of his Government’s unwavering support, encouraging them to feel at home in Sierra Leone and to work closely with his administration in advancing mutually beneficial partnerships.
Meanwhile, Nigeria has reiterated its commitment to strengthening diplomatic relations with Sierra Leone following the presentation of Ayo Luther Ogbomode’s Letters of Credence.
According to a statement issued by Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the High Commissioner conveyed the goodwill of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and congratulated President Bio on assuming the Chairmanship of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The Ministry reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening the historic bonds of friendship and brotherhood between the two countries, noting their longstanding cooperation in regional peacekeeping, democratic governance, security, trade and economic development.
Nigeria also highlighted its continued support for regional stability and economic diplomacy, reaffirming its commitment to fostering stronger partnerships with African nations through enhanced political engagement, investment and regional cooperation.
The presentation of credentials by the three envoys reflects Sierra Leone’s continued efforts to deepen diplomatic engagement, expand strategic international partnerships and promote peace, economic growth and sustainable development through strengthened bilateral and regional cooperation.
