MoFAIC Building, Tower Hill Freetown, 14th December 2023.

The newly appointed United Nations Resident Coordinator, Seraphine Wakana, today presented copies of her Letters of Credence to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Musa Timothy Kabba.

Mrs. Wakana during her presentation expressed a condolence message on behalf of the UN Secretary-General and the UN Country Team over the unfortunate attempted coup on November 26th, 2023 that claimed the lives of some military and security personnel.

Mrs. Wakana said that she had been briefed on the crucial role that her office will be playing as Co-Chair in the implementation of the National Dialogue framework between the Government of Sierra Leone and the opposition party the All People’s Congress.
She said that the role of the UN is not only to sustain peace but to work towards the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals ahead of Agenda 2023.

She noted that the Government of Sierra Leone is on track in the implementation of the ‘Big Five’ agenda that addresses some of the SDGs.
She assured the Minister that the UN Resident Coordinator’s office is ready to mobilize support from development partners in any capacity or expertise in realizing some of the priority areas of the government that are also in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (2024-30).

Receiving her Letter of Credence, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Musa Timothy Kabba welcomed and congratulated Mrs. Seraphine Wakana on her appointment as UN Resident Coordinator in Sierra Leone; adding that she was coming at a time when the country’s record of being one of the most peaceful nations was being tested as a result of the November 26 failed coup.

He assured the UN Resident Coordinator that the Government and partners were working to restore calmness in the country.
Minister Kabba said that the role of the United Nations since its formation in 1945 in maintaining global security cannot be overemphasized; noting the role of the UN in transitioning Sierra Leone from a war-ravaged country to a post-war reconstructive nation.

The Minister briefed the UN Resident Coordinator that the Election Review Committee was a recommendation made after the National Dialogue between the Government of Sierra Leone and the main opposition APC that was facilitated by the UN and other partners to address Sierra Leone’s election challenges.

The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Francess P. Algali highlighted key components of the Feed Sierra Leone initiative and how the UN can complement government efforts in realizing some of the development projects in the country.