His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio has welcomed Mr. Manssour Bin Mussallam, Secretary-General of the Organisation of Southern Cooperation (OSC), during a courtesy visit at State House. The meeting underscored the mutual commitment to advancing South-South and Triangular Cooperation as a strategic pathway to sustainable development.
Leading the engagement, Minister of Public Administration and Political Affairs, Amara Kallon, explained that the invitation extended to the Organisation of Southern Cooperation to participate in the 3rd Africa High-Level Forum on South-South and Triangular Cooperation for Sustainable Development was based on the OSC’s strong advocacy for Pan-Africanism and its alignment with the principles of equitable cooperation among nations of the Global South.
In his remarks, Secretary-General Manssour Bin Mussallam expressed profound gratitude for the warm hospitality extended to him and his delegation in Sierra Leone. He thanked President Bio for the opportunity to participate in the conference, which he described as a testament to Sierra Leone’s leadership on global development issues.
He commended President Bio’s visionary leadership, noting the President’s consistent commitment to the reform of the United Nations Security Council and his practical, solution-oriented stance on issues affecting the African continent. Mr. Bin Mussallam stated that, in light of this leadership, the Organisation of Southern Cooperation is eager to see Sierra Leone become a member of the OSC.
Formally welcoming the Secretary-General to Sierra Leone, President Bio thanked him for attending the forum and for paying a courtesy call. He emphasized his government’s continued prioritization of human capital development, noting that Sierra Leone is keen on attracting investors who will add value to both its natural resources and its people.
“Our development strategy is centered on empowering our citizens and leveraging our resources sustainably,” President Bio stated. “We welcome meaningful partnerships and believe in the shared potential of South-South and Triangular Cooperation to accelerate progress.”
The President assured the Secretary-General of Sierra Leone’s readiness to deepen collaboration with the Organisation of Southern Cooperation and other partners in pursuit of common development goals.
This visit further strengthens Sierra Leone’s commitment to multilateral engagement, particularly through frameworks that promote equitable development and inclusive growth for countries across the Global South.
