By Foday Moriba Conteh
On Wednesday, May 28, 2025, a high-level Indian All-Party Parliamentary Delegation, led by H.E. Shri Shrikant Eknath Shinde, Member of Parliament, arrived in Sierra Leone for a significant two-day official visit that concluded on Friday, May 30. The visit underscored the urgent call for greater global unity in the fight against terrorism.
During their visit, the delegation held substantive engagements with top Government officials, including the Vice President of Sierra Leone, the Speaker of Parliament, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Deputy Minister of Defence, and the National Security Coordinator. The discussions focused on India’s over four decades of experience in counterterrorism and explored avenues for enhanced bilateral collaboration.
In a poignant moment of solidarity, the Vice President of Sierra Leone, Dr. Juldeh Jalloh strongly condemned the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, India. He expressed heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s unwavering support for India in the global fight against terrorism.
The Parliament of Sierra Leone echoed this sentiment by formally condemning the Pahalgam attack and observing a solemn moment of silence in honor of the victims. Also expressing support were the Deputy Minister of Defence, Col. (Retd.) Muana Brima Massaquoi, and Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Daniel Brima Koroma, both of whom voiced strong condemnation of terrorism and reiterated the need for coordinated international efforts.
Deputy Minister Massaquoi emphasized the urgency for African nations to collectively confront the threat of terrorism, warning that complacency could allow the menace to reach their own shores.
The visit concluded with a widely attended press conference held at The Place Resort in Tokeh, Western Rural District, on Friday, May 30. Members of the Indian delegation shared key insights with journalists from across Sierra Leone’s leading print and electronic media houses, highlighting the importance of global partnerships and shared vigilance in the fight against terrorism.
Addressing the press, H.E. Baisnab Charan Pradhan, India’s High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, connected the visit to the tragic terrorist attack that occurred on April 22, 2025, in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. The attack claimed the lives of 26 innocent tourists, many of whom were brutally killed in the presence of their families, a horror that shook not only India but resonated globally.
High Commissioner Pradhan emphasized that the delegation’s presence was intended to strengthen the collective global resolve against terrorism and send a resounding message that such barbarity cannot be tolerated in any civilized society.
He praised the warm reception accorded to the delegation and commended the Speaker of Sierra Leone’s Parliament, Segepoh Solomon Thomas, for his resolute condemnation of terrorism, calling it a powerful statement that echoes with millions in India and peace-loving communities worldwide.
Leading the delegation, Honorable Shri Shrikant Eknath Shinde highlighted that terrorism respects no borders and can threaten any nation, including Sierra Leone. He noted that India dispatched seven parliamentary delegations across the globe as part of a comprehensive outreach following the Pahalgam attack to promote peace and reinforce India’s zero-tolerance stance on terrorism.
Hon. Shinde urged collective international action to combat this universal menace, underlining the shared responsibility of all nations to protect their citizens.
He also reflected on the historical ties and strategic partnership between India and Sierra Leone, recalling India’s critical support during Sierra Leone’s civil conflict when Indian peacekeepers formed the largest battalion in the United Nations mission. “The delegation was met with solidarity from Sierra Leonean leaders, who unanimously condemned the April attack and demonstrated unwavering support for India’s fight against terror.
The Parliament of Sierra Leone observed a solemn moment of silence in honor of the victims and was among the first countries to publicly denounce the attack, immediately following the UAE’s lead” he revealed.
Honorable Shinde encouraged Sierra Leone to leverage its positions within the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council to champion the global condemnation of terrorism.
During the media session, the Indian delegation did not shy away from calling out Pakistan’s complicity in harboring and sponsoring terrorist groups, explicitly naming UN-designated organizations such as Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen. The delegation urged the international community, including Sierra Leone, to support India’s push for Pakistan’s reinstatement on the Financial Action Task Force’s Grey List, signaling the need for stricter accountability.
Ms. Bansuri Swaraj, Member of Parliament in India’s Lok Sabha and part of the delegation, expressed heartfelt appreciation for the hospitality shown by Sierra Leone and reaffirmed the strong bonds between the two nations. She praised the Indian diaspora in Sierra Leone as a vital link in this partnership and highlighted the government’s swift and compassionate response to the recent terrorist tragedy.
Ms. Swaraj described the visit as a powerful declaration of India’s unwavering commitment under Operation Sindoor to eradicate terrorism, stating that terror and dialogue cannot coexist, just as water and blood cannot flow together. She concluded with a passionate call for united global efforts to defeat terrorism, which she described as a cancerous scourge threatening humanity’s future.
The Indian Parliamentary Delegation’s visit ended with an engagement with the Indian diaspora in Sierra Leone, leaving behind a message of peace, resilience, and the urgent need for international collaboration to overcome the global threat of terrorism.
