By Kandeh Sesay
Cairo, Egypt — Wednesday, 14 August 2024 — His Excellency Ambassador Sadiq Silla hosted Major General Patrick Gauchat, Chief of Staff/Head of Mission of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO), and his delegation at the Embassy of the Republic of Sierra Leone in Cairo on Monday, 12 August 2024.
The meeting focused on regional security issues, extending beyond military actions to encompass broader concerns in the region and Egypt. UNTSO’s role involves monitoring ceasefires, supervising armistice agreements, preventing isolated incidents from escalating, and supporting other United Nations peacekeeping operations in the Middle East.
Ambassador Silla welcomed General Gauchat and highlighted Sierra Leone’s recent election to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) as a non-permanent member for August 2024. He emphasized President Bio’s commitment to advocating for reform in the UNSC, aiming to address historical injustices and enhance Africa’s representation. Sierra Leone supports the call for two permanent seats and two additional non-permanent seats for Africa, asserting the continent’s right to determine its own representatives.
Major General Gauchat expressed UNTSO’s intention to invite Sierra Leone and Kazakhstan to contribute to their military observer mission. He noted that Sierra Leone meets high standards of acceptance and practices multiculturalism. To formalize the invitation, General Gauchat will submit a proposal to the Under-Secretary-General (USG) for Peace Operations in New York. Upon approval, the USG will reach out to the countries to request troops for peacekeeping operations.
The discussion included insights into the causes, dynamics, and consequences of conflicts and strategies for resolving regional security issues. The delegation also included Major GS Renato Marti, Deputy Chief Liaison Officer for UNTSO in Cairo, and Lieutenant Colonel Andy Palmer, Chief Liaison Officer to Cairo.
