His Excellency Nikos Christodoulides, President of the Republic of Cyprus, has lauded Sierra Leone’s President, His Excellency Julius Maada Bio, for his exemplary leadership at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and as Chairperson of the ECOWAS Authority. President Nikos Christodoulides reaffirmed his country’s commitment to strengthening bilateral and multilateral ties with Sierra Leone during a high-level meeting held on Thursday, 13th November 2025, in Nicosia, Cyprus.
The occasion marked a historic milestone the first-ever official visit of a sitting Sierra Leonean Head of State to Cyprus. President Nikos Christodoulides emphasized the shared historical legacy of both nations as former British colonies and underscored the importance of expanding cooperation into new strategic sectors.
He noted that while relations between Cyprus and Sierra Leone have remained cordial over the years, this visit signals a new era of enhanced collaboration in agriculture, fisheries, education, maritime affairs, cybersecurity and private sector investment. He also briefed President Bio on Cyprus’ upcoming six-month rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union, beginning January 2026, pledging to leverage the position to deepen engagement between the EU, Sierra Leone and ECOWAS.
In his response, President Bio expressed gratitude for the warm hospitality accorded to him and his delegation, describing the visit as both “strategic and symbolic.” He commended the Government of Cyprus for awarding scholarships to Sierra Leonean students in 2022 and expressed hope for expanding such educational partnerships. The Sierra Leonean leader also presented his Government’s “Big Five Game Changers” agenda, outlining priority areas such as food security, human capital development, youth employment, technological advancement and public sector reform.
During the visit, three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed between the two nations. Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Alhaji Musa Timothy Kabba, and Cyprus’ Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Dr. Maria Panayiotou, represented their respective Governments during the signing ceremony.
President Bio later paid a courtesy visit to the Municipality of Nicosia, where he was received by Mayor Charalambos Prountzos and also visited the Cypriot House of Representatives, where he met with Ms. Annita Demetriou, the President of the House.
This landmark diplomatic engagement further cements Sierra Leone’s growing global partnerships under President Bio’s leadership and holds significant promise for enhanced cooperation between Africa and Europe, particularly as Cyprus assumes its pivotal EU Presidency role in 2026.
