Freetown: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation led a three-day engagement this week between Sierra Leonean officials from various ministries, departments, and agencies and the Kingdom of Morocco. The follow-up meeting, which started on April 22 at the Ministry's conference room, focused on turning past diplomatic commitments into real development outcomes.
According to Sierra Leone News Agency, opening remarks came from key representatives of both nations, with special attention to implementing agreements signed during the third session of the Joint Commission of Cooperation (JCC) held in Dakhla, Morocco, in April 2023.
Deputy Director General of Policy, Mr. Momodu A. Wurie welcomed delegates and described the forum as a strategic platform to strengthen bilateral partnership. 'Our collective goal is clear: transforming commitment into measurable outcomes that deliver tangible benefits for both countries,' he said, adding that the talks would yield practical, policy-oriented recommendations.
Head of the Moroccan delegation, Abdella Boutadghart, thanked his Sierra Leonean hosts and recalled historical ties built on friendship and fraternity. He noted that relations have grown remarkably under King Mohammed VI and President Julius Maada Bio. 'The Kingdom of Morocco and the Republic of Sierra Leone share a common vision of development based on solidarity, cooperation, and mutual respect,' Boutadghart said. He stressed the need to review progress on thirteen agreements from the 2023 joint commission and identify the next steps for joint projects.
Delivering the keynote address, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Alhaji Timothy Musa Kabba, welcomed the Moroccan delegation on behalf of President Bio, who has declared 2026 the year of action. Kabba noted that the theme 'From Vision to Delivery: Inclusive Development' fits the current stage of bilateral engagement. 'We are transitioning from the foundational phase of our cooperation into a decisive period of implementation, where our collaboration must yield tangible, measurable outcomes for our people,' he said.
The minister reviewed the cooperation timeline; the first Joint Commission in 2006, followed by sessions in 2008 and 2023. He highlighted the ambitious 2022-2024 roadmap and noted that Sierra Leone has since signed a new 2024-2026 roadmap with regional partners, including Liberia, C´te d'Ivoire, and Guinea.
Agriculture, water management, fisheries, tourism, renewable energy, and operational training were identified as key growth areas. Kabba also confirmed Sierra Leone's ratification of the Rabat ministerial declaration on child-focused disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration.
He pointed to the recent opening of the Moroccan Embassy in Freetown as a step that strengthened institutional engagement. While trade between the two nations remains modest, he described encouraging signs of gradual growth. 'Our task is not merely to celebrate incremental progress, but to deliberately scale up trade volumes, diversify exchanges, and unlock the full economic potential of our partnership,' Kabba asserted.