In order to increase awareness of the role and activities of the African Union and its Member States, as well as highlighting major economic, social and political issues facing the continent, students from Universities in United States and Canada will assemble this year at Howard University in Washington, D.C. to participate in the 23rd Annual International Model African Union Conference.
Ensuring that the positions taken by the Students of Georgia Southern University representing Sierra Leone at the Annual International Model African Union Conference this year are as informed and realistic as possible, a simulation exercise was facilitated on 02/22/25 by the Embassy of Sierra Leone in Washington, D.C., briefing the students on key Committees of the African Union.
Welcoming the Georgia Southern University students and their Advisors to the Sierra Leone Embassy, Charge d’ Affaires Sheku Mesali thanked the team for choosing to represent Sierra Leone at this year’s 23rd International Model African Union Conference.
Briefing the students, the Cultural Attache’ at the Embassy of Sierra Leone in Washington, D.C. dilated on Sierra Leone’s connection with the United States through the Atlantic Slave Trade, British colonial administration in Sierra Leone, and the attainment of independence. Mr. Fofana mentioned the gruesome civil war in Sierra, and the role of international peace keeping force in Sierra Leone. He further informed the students of the 2018 election in Sierra Leone, leading to the election of President Rtd Brigadier Julius Maada Bio and his New Direction agenda, emphasizing on human capital development.
Moreover, Mr Fofana stressed that the government of Sierra Leone since 2023 has embarked on a Five Game Changer agenda.
On the working of the Executive Council of the African Union, Mr Fofana noted that the Executive Council is the Assembly of Heads of States and government, and also receives reports from the Council on major management and resolution. Discussing the Committee on Democracy, Governance and Human Rights, he stressed that silencing the guns through building resilience, democracies and accountable governance, as well as entrenching universal principles of Human Rights, Gender Equality, Justice and the Rule of Law guarantees peaceful co-existence.
Whilst deliberating on the Committee on Economic Matters, Mr. Fofana intimated that leveraging Africa’s economic power in the global economy and strengthening Africa’s role in global trade negotiations should be paramount. He further briefed the students on the Committee on Peace and security, the operationalization of the African Standby Force, a protocol for post conflict resolution, disarmament, demobilization and reintegration , promoting security sector reforms to prevent and combat terrorism.
Speaking on the Committee on Social Matters, Sierra Leone Cultural Attache’ at the Embassy admonished the Georgia Southern University students that entrenching Pan-Africanism by promoting common history, destiny and heritage of African aspiration, the role of the diaspora in achieving goals of Agenda 2063 – a definition of role, policies and programs for implementation, geared towards increasing the role of the diaspora.
In conclusion, Mr Fofana advanced that the Assembly of Heads of States and Government entertains debate, and adoption of final resolutions.
During question and answer session, staff of the Embassy engaged the students of Georgia Southern University on Sierra Leone history, gun control, and diaspora participation.
The students were accompanied by Akiv Dawson, Director , Center for Africana Studies, Faculty Advisor, Georgia Southern University and Dr. Dina Walker-Devose , Assistant Dean, College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Georgia Southern University.
PEL Koroma
Embassy of Sierra Leone
Washington , D.C.
