Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Alhaji Timothy Musa Kabba, on April 8, 2025 undertook a significant visit to the Republic of Kazakhstan, signaling a renewed commitment to deepening bilateral relations between the two nations. The historic visit marked the first time a Sierra Leonean Foreign Minister has visited Kazakhstan since diplomatic ties were established.
Alhaji Timothy Musa Kabba met with His Excellency, Murat Nurtleu, Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, in a high-level bilateral meeting held in Astana. He conveyed heartfelt greetings from His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio and the people of Sierra Leone, while expressing appreciation for the warm hospitality extended by the Government and People of Kazakhstan.
The discussions centered around fostering cooperation in key strategic sectors, including agriculture, energy, health, mining, trade, education and infrastructure development. The Minister emphasized that those areas of collaboration are closely aligned with President Bio’s transformative development blueprint, the “Big Five Game Changers”:
- Feed Salone – Promoting agricultural productivity and food security
- Human Capital Development – Advancing education and skills for the 21st century
- Youth Empowerment Scheme – Creating opportunities for young people
- Public Service Reform – Enhancing Government efficiency
- Technology and Infrastructure Development – Driving innovation and national growth
The Minister briefed his counterpart on Sierra Leone’s ongoing reform agenda and its vision to transition into a middle-income country. He highlighted Sierra Leone’s investment potential in key sectors such as agriculture, tourism, infrastructure, mining and energy, reiterating the country’s openness to partnerships and sustainable investments.
The two Foreign Ministers signed a non-binding roadmap agreement to accelerate cooperation, laying the groundwork for future engagements and collaborative projects.
Beyond his meeting with Minister Nurtleu, Alhaji Timothy Musa Kabba held several strategic discussions with high-ranking officials and institutions across Kazakhstan:
- With Minister of Agriculture, A.S. Saparov, he explored partnerships in mechanized farming, food security and livestock development.
- In his meeting with Minister of Industry and Construction, E.K. Nagaspayev, the dialogue focused on leveraging shared mineral development goals and inviting Kazakh investors to Sierra Leone’s burgeoning infrastructure sector.
- Engagements with Minister of Energy, E.K. Akkenzhenov, centered on potential energy collaborations and investment initiatives.
- A notable meeting with Aryn, Director General of the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS), secured a pledge of support for Sierra Leone’s “Feed Salone” initiative, with a particular focus on empowering women and youth in agriculture.
- Minister Kabba also held a strategic conversation with Ashimbayev, Chairman of the Senate of Kazakhstan, where both parties affirmed their commitment to strengthening parliamentary diplomacy and intergovernmental relations.
Alhaji Timothy Musa Kabba reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s commitment to ratifying the visa-free entry agreement for holders of diplomatic and service passports, which was initially signed during the 2024 United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Concluding his visit, the Foreign Affairs Minister underscored the strategic parallels between Sierra Leone and Kazakhstan, especially their mutual ambitions for economic transformation through resource-based growth, regional cooperation and sustainable development.
The visit not only marked a milestone in Sierra Leone-Kazakhstan relations but also reaffirmed the Bio administration’s foreign policy strategy of forging mutually beneficial partnerships across emerging global regions.
