By Amin Kef (Ranger)
In a powerful demonstration of regional leadership and visionary diplomacy, the Vice President of Sierra Leone, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, played a central role in hosting Senegal’s Prime Minister, His Excellency, Ousmane Sonko, during a high-level working visit to Sierra Leone from June 2nd to 3rd, 2025. The visit marks a major step forward in Sierra Leone’s diplomatic and economic relations with Senegal, cementing Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh’s position as a key driver of West African cooperation and integration.
Speaking after the engagement, Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh emphasized the strategic importance of the visit in actualizing the commitments made by President Julius Maada Bio and President Bassirou Diomaye Faye in 2024.
“On my invitation, Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and a high-level delegation visited Sierra Leone. During this visit, my brother and I were able to make tremendous progress on the commitments our two Presidents made about a year ago,” he said. “We focused on deepening regional trade and economic cooperation by leveraging our strategic assets and proximity.”
Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh highlighted the need for South-South cooperation guided by local expertise and knowledge, urging both nations to act boldly and innovatively to meet the developmental needs of their citizens. One of the highlights of the visit was the establishment of a Joint Technical Committee, tasked with exploring cross-border opportunities in minerals, energy, aviation and agriculture.
“Our discussions were not just ceremonial. We challenged ourselves to be timely and practical. We signed vital Memoranda of Cooperation that will serve as a blueprint for future engagement,” Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh affirmed. “It was a great pleasure hosting Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and his team and I look forward to capitalizing on this momentum.”
At State House, President Julius Maada Bio formally welcomed the Prime Minister, expressing deep appreciation for the strong Senegalese-Sierra Leonean bond. President Bio described the visit as a new chapter in bilateral relations and emphasized plans to enhance collaboration in infrastructure, energy and mining; sectors critical to both economies.
“Sierra Leone and Senegal enjoy longstanding relations. This visit is a new phase of our partnership; one that will see joint infrastructure projects, energy cooperation and shared strategies for mineral development,” President Bio said.
Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko conveyed warm greetings from President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and reaffirmed Senegal’s commitment to deepening cooperation with Sierra Leone.
“I am here to follow up on President Faye’s visit and to push forward the shared vision we discussed. We see Sierra Leone not only as a partner but as a strategic ally in transforming West Africa,” Ousmane Sonko noted. “We are particularly eager to work together on mineral development, energy transition and trade facilitation.”
The visit culminated in a high-level working session co-chaired by Vice President Jalloh and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, resulting in the signing of several landmark agreements:
- A Memorandum of Understanding on Mining and Energy Cooperation, signed by Sierra Leone’s Minister of Finance, Sheku Ahmed Fantamadi Bangura and Senegal’s Minister of Economy, Abdourahmane Sarr.
- An MoU on Bilateral Investment Promotion and Private Sector Cooperation, signed by Sierra Leone’s National Investment Board Executive Director, Dr. Edward Hinga Sandy and APIX Managing Director, Mr. Bakary Sega Bathily of Senegal.
Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh described the outcome as a “milestone in fostering collaboration, regional integration and mutual prosperity.”
“Today’s engagements reflect a shared commitment to building a strategic minerals hub, harnessing sustainable energy and advancing our development aspirations. This is what African cooperation should look like; driven by ambition, action and unity,” he concluded.
The visit also included site tours of key mining installations, where the Senegalese delegation explored investment opportunities and Sierra Leone’s natural resource potential. Energy collaboration was a major focus, with discussions centered on joint investments in renewable energy and energy resilience.
Sierra Leone is advancing toward greater regional integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), with Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh distinguishing himself as a strategic thinker and champion of African-led development. His leadership in steering this landmark visit has elevated Sierra Leone’s profile on the continental stage and set the tone for a future defined by solidarity, innovation and shared prosperity.
