This decision was reached on Wednesday 24th April, 2019 after a series of separate meetings held in Conakry, Guinea, between the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Sierra Leone, Dr. Alie Kabba and delegation; and the President of Guinea, His Excellency Prof. Alpha Conde, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Guinea, Hon Mamadi Toure and the Guinea Minister of Interior, Gal. Bourema Conde. 

 

At the meetings, Dr. Alie Kabba conveyed felicitations from His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio who he indicated, considered the planned meetings in Guinea as an important engagement to further strengthen the existing family ties and bonds. He further noted that the Sierra Leone government is determined to ensure that the historica

lly warm and friendly ties continued to flourish between the countries and their peoples. 

Dr. Alie Kabba however noted that, in addition to strengthening the family ties and bonds, raised concerns about reports of land and maritime encroachments at points along the Sierra Leone – Guinea border, as well as resolving the pre-exiting impasse of Yenga, and delivered a letter from His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio, to the President of Guinea, His Excellency Prof. Alpha Conde, in which the said concerns were outlined.

Dr. Kabba warmly acknowledged that the relationship between the two countries runs very deep and that it is firm with ethnic, religious, social, economic connections, and thus spoke of theneed to take concrete actions increased sensitization, to coexist and address border as well as engage in economic ties for mutual prosperity.

The parties agreed to establish a Permanent Joint Commission of Cooperation between the two countries to serve as a sustained framework to deepen mutually beneficial economic ties and also provide a vehicle to address the problems.

 Within the context of a special relationship and the proximity between the two countries,  the Minister raised concerns about a premature seizure of a Sierra Leone operated fishing boat and the subsequent levying of a substantive punitive fine, on the part of Guinean officials.

To enhance a free flow of movement and greater people to people exchanges, Dr. Allie Kabba also discussed Government’s commitment in ensuring the free movement of the respective government buses across both countries.  It was agreed that action would be taken to ensure their smooth operations.

In the meeting with His Excellency President Alpha Conde, The President noted the significance of peace and stability within countries and that leadership should thus work hard to sustain the two, for the good of the people.

 He called on Sierra Leone and other countries in the Manor River Union to work together to deepen and strengthen the ties in the region and the African Continent in general, including support to the establishment of a sub-regional airline. Dr. Alie Kabba extended an open invitation to the Guinean authorities to visit Sierra Leonie, so that the Permanent Joint Commission could be launched, as a matter of urgency as was agreed by both parties.