Vice President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Dr Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, on Friday, 23 January 2026, received the German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Reem Alabali Radovan and her delegation at the Office of the Vice President in Freetown, in a high-level engagement focused on strengthening development cooperation and advancing programmes that directly improve the lives of ordinary Sierra Leoneans.
The meeting, described as warm and forward-looking, reaffirmed the longstanding ties between Sierra Leone and Germany and explored new opportunities for enhanced collaboration across key social and economic sectors, including food security, health care delivery, youth empowerment and regional security.
Speaking on behalf of President Dr Julius Maada Bio, the Government, and the people of Sierra Leone, Vice President Juldeh Jalloh welcomed Minister Reem Alabali Radovan and expressed appreciation for her decision to visit local communities and inspect development projects firsthand. He said such a gesture reflected a partnership rooted not only in official diplomacy but also in genuine concern for real-life impact and inclusive national progress.
The Vice President used the meeting to highlight the Government’s ongoing drive to deepen reforms and deliver improved public services noting that international partnerships remained vital to accelerating progress across multiple sectors. He recalled that Sierra Leone’s relationship with Germany had grown steadily over the years, underpinned by mutual respect, shared development priorities and consistent support during the country’s post-conflict recovery phase.
He further acknowledged Germany’s long-standing contributions in areas such as rehabilitation, infrastructure development and capacity-building initiatives, which he said had strengthened bilateral relations and positioned the partnership as one of the most active and meaningful in Sierra Leone’s development journey.
Dr Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh also referenced broader engagements surrounding governance and development programming, stating that the courtesy call was preceded by discussions on how both countries could expand cooperation in priority areas aligned with national needs. He noted that those engagements are part of a wider Government strategy aimed at supporting human development outcomes, strengthening livelihoods and building resilience within communities.
In his reflections on development progress, the Vice President highlighted improvements in education, women’s empowerment and health care delivery as central pillars of the Government’s agenda. He noted that continued investments in social services had contributed to increased access to basic education, improved opportunities for women and girls and enhanced health outcomes in many parts of the country.
He pointed to progress in reducing maternal mortality, expanding access to quality health care services and extending outreach through mobile health initiatives designed to reach communities that may otherwise be underserved. According to him, those gains demonstrate a shared commitment between Sierra Leone and development partners such as Germany to place people, especially women, children and vulnerable groups, at the centre of development planning.
The Vice President also emphasized that while significant progress had been made, the Government remains determined to do more, particularly in strengthening systems that support social protection, inclusive growth, and national stability. He described the future of Sierra Leone as “very bright” and expressed optimism that partnerships like the one with Germany would continue to deliver tangible benefits for citizens.
In her remarks, German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Reem Alabali Radovan, expressed delight to be in Sierra Leone, describing her visit as an important opportunity to witness the nation’s development progress firsthand.
She said it was important for her to see how Sierra Leone has advanced since the end of the civil war and despite later challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic. Reem Alabali Radovan commended the Government’s development agenda, particularly the “Big Five Agenda” initiatives and praised achievements she said were evident in areas such as security, women’s health, education and youth empowerment.
She also applauded the continued collaboration between Sierra Leone and Germany, noting that joint efforts involving international partners and institutions such as the World Food Programme had strengthened national development delivery and supported critical humanitarian and social interventions.
The Minister emphasized that the partnership between the two countries is built on shared goals and mutual commitment to sustainable development. She said Germany remains eager to support Sierra Leone’s ongoing reforms and development projects, adding that her visit, her first as Minister since 2021, signals renewed commitment to deepening cooperation and strengthening the relationship.
She concluded by thanking the Vice President and the people of Sierra Leone for the warm welcome and expressed optimism that the two countries would continue to work together in areas essential to Sierra Leone’s long-term social and economic growth.
