Riyadh, Thursday, 27th January, 2022-
Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, has sought support from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for Sierra Leone’s bid for a seat in the United Nations Security Council in the Non-Permanent category for 2024- 2025.
In his statement, Professor David J. Francis commended his counterpart, His Highness, Prince Faisal Bin Al Saud, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, for the warm hospitality accorded him and his delegation since their arrival in the Kingdom.
He conveyed kind sentiments from His Excellency the President, Dr. Julius Maada Bio, the Government and People of Sierra Leone to His Majesty, the King and People of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, adding that he was in Riyadh to further strengthen the four decade-long bilateral ties between the two countries and to further reaffirm that Sierra Leone would support Saudi Arabia for its EXPO 2030 bid.
The Minister then made a case for Sierra Leone as a candidate in the United Nations Security Council Bid as a Non-Permanent Member for 2024 – 2025.
“Your Excellency, I am pleased to inform you that Sierra Leone is now a sole African Union candidate for a seat in the U.N Security Council in the Non-Permanent category for 2024 – 2025. In other words, Sierra Leone is part of the African clean slate and Sierra Leone will join the Democratic Republic of the Congo for election in June 2023. We will always and we have always voted for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, so now is the time for us to look forward to a big brother to back us as well as to mobilize support from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and your allies to vote for Sierra Leone,” Professor Francis said.
On his part, the Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Highness, Prince Faisal Bin Al Saud, said he was delighted at his counterpart’s visit, noting that the two countries should focus on further deepening their bilateral ties spanning four decades.
Prince Faisal Bin Al Saud described Sierra Leone as “a shining beacon for post-war peacebuilding and state reconstruction and an example of what small states can do on the global stage.”
“Your Excellency, we are very grateful for your support towards Saudi Arabia Expo 2030 bid. What I also heard from you is encouraging especially in your government’s drive to building Human Capital development, especially in the area of Free Quality Education. On your Security Council bid, your excellency, be rest assured we are inclined to be supportive to your candidacy and I will take it up further to my leadership. You are clearly a very credible candidate, be rest assured that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is behind you,” the Saudi Foreign Minister assured.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Professor David J. Francis, was accompanied by the Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prince E.O Cole, Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to the Kingdom Dr. Ibrahim Jalloh, the Director of Middle East & Asia of the Ministry Abdul Aziz Turay, the Director of Ministerial Follow-up of the Ministry Abraham John, the First Secretary at the Sierra Leone Embassy in Saudi Arabia Mohamed Sulaiman Sankoh, and the Information Attaché at the Embassy Abubakarr Bah.
END
For more enquiries
information.attache@sa.slembassy.gov.sl
