By Amin Kef (Ranger)
Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Timothy Musa Kabba, on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, held high-level bilateral discussions with Christopher Landau, Deputy Secretary of State of the United States, as part of ongoing diplomatic engagements aimed at deepening cooperation between the two countries.
The meeting, which took place at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., focused on advancing joint economic interests, promoting shared prosperity, and strengthening collaboration to deter illegal immigration. It also formed part of a broader diplomatic calendar surrounding the inaugural U.S.-hosted Critical Minerals Ministerial scheduled for February 4.
Speaking after the engagement, Deputy Secretary Landau described the meeting as productive and forward-looking. “I greatly enjoyed reconnecting today with Sierra Leonean Foreign Minister Timothy Musa Kabba to discuss how the United States and Sierra Leone can better promote prosperity for our peoples and work together to deter illegal immigration,” he said, underscoring Washington’s interest in expanding practical cooperation with Freetown.
Minister Kabba, who arrived in Washington at the invitation of Marco Rubio, explained that his visit combines participation in the Strategic and Critical Minerals Conference with broader bilateral discussions. “At the invite of the U.S. Secretary of State, I arrived in Washington, D.C. this morning to participate in a Strategic Minerals Conference and to engage on broader bilateral issues,” the Foreign Minister noted.
He is accompanied by Sierra Leone’s Deputy Minister of Mines and senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, reflecting the technical and policy depth of the delegation. The presence of mining and diplomatic experts signals Sierra Leone’s intention to position itself as a credible and informed partner in global resource governance and supply chain discussions.
Drawing on his background as a former Minister of Mines and a petroleum engineer, Kabba emphasized the growing importance of resource diplomacy in modern international relations. He noted that natural resources now sit at the intersection of economic growth, national security, and environmental sustainability. “Resource diplomacy requires understanding your country’s competitiveness in order to create partnerships defined by collective security, mutual benefit, and environmental sustainability,” he said.
The Foreign Minister further highlighted that President Julius Maada Bio’s policies in the extractive sector have laid a strong foundation for such engagements, describing them as “compelling and progressive” in their focus on transparency, value addition, and long-term national interest.
The Kabba–Landau meeting also aligns with the United States’ renewed engagement with African nations on issues of migration, security, and strategic minerals. U.S. officials have increasingly stressed the need for collaborative approaches to managing migration flows while expanding lawful economic opportunities that address root causes.
Beyond migration, economic cooperation featured prominently in the talks, particularly in the context of global efforts to diversify and secure critical minerals supply chains. Sierra Leone, endowed with significant mineral resources, has been positioning itself as a potential partner in responsible mining and supply chain resilience, areas of growing interest to the United States.
The engagement with Sierra Leone comes as Washington hosts delegations from more than 50 countries for the inaugural Critical Minerals Ministerial, a landmark gathering aimed at strengthening international collaboration on minerals essential for technological innovation, economic strength, and national security.
Overall, the meeting between Minister Kabba and Deputy Secretary Landau reflects the steady strengthening of U.S.–Sierra Leone relations, anchored on mutual respect, shared economic interests, and cooperation on global challenges. As both countries look to translate dialogue into concrete outcomes, the Washington talks mark another step toward a more robust and multidimensional partnership.
