By Amin Kef (Ranger)
Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority (SLCAA) Director General, Musayeroh Barrie and Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Wang Qing held a meeting at the Chinese Embassy on Friday July 4, 2025 in Freetown to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation in the aviation sector. The discussions centered on enhancing air connectivity, capacity building and deepening technical collaboration between Sierra Leone and the People’s Republic of China.
Director General Musayeroh Barrie, under whose leadership SLCAA has achieved remarkable milestones, emphasized the importance of leveraging international partnerships to boost Sierra Leone’s aviation capabilities. “Our engagement with China marks a pivotal step toward strengthening our aviation infrastructure and human capital development,” she stated during the meeting.
Ambassador Wang Qing expressed Beijing’s commitment to supporting Sierra Leone’s civil aviation growth, highlighting opportunities for joint projects, training programs and infrastructure development to enhance regional connectivity.
Since assuming office, Madam Musayeroh Barrie has driven transformational reforms within SLCAA. Notably, Sierra Leone’s aviation safety score soared to 74.22% in the 2023 ICAO audit, well above the 60% Abuja Safety Target, bringing the nation closer to removal from the EU aviation blacklist. She also facilitated the reintroduction of Air Sierra Leone and established new direct routes such as the Freetown–London Gatwick connection, significantly boosting international air travel options.
Madam Musayeroh Barrie has successfully negotiated bilateral agreements with countries including Qatar, South Africa, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Cameroon, expanding Sierra Leone’s global aviation footprint. Her participation in key global forums like the ICAO Global Implementation Support Symposium and the Facilitation 2024 Global Summit underscores her role as an influential advocate for security, efficiency and gender equality in aviation.
A champion of women’s empowerment, she actively promotes Sierra Leone’s Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) Act, ensuring women occupy at least 30% of leadership roles within the sector.
The partnership with China promises to accelerate SLCAA’s strategic goals through shared expertise, technology transfer and strengthened air services. Both leaders expressed optimism that this collaboration would yield mutual growth, positioning Sierra Leone as an emerging aviation hub in West Africa.
“Our vision is clear; to build a world-class aviation authority that fosters safe, efficient and sustainable air transport,” affirmed Director General Musayeroh Barrie. Ambassador Wang echoed that commitment, pledging continued Chinese support to help Sierra Leone soar to new heights.
With dynamic leadership and international partnerships like this, Sierra Leone’s civil aviation sector is poised for a transformative future.
