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High Commissioner-Designate of Nigeria Presents Copies of His Letter of Credence To Foreign Minister Professor Francis

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Lebanon Charge d’Affairs, Mr Hadi Jaber Bids Farewell to Salone Foreign Minister

Press Release

High Commissioner-Designate of the Republic of Nigeria to the Republic of Sierra Leone, His Excellency Henry John Omaku on Monday 10th May, 2021 presented copies of his Letter of Credence to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Prof. David Francis at his office, Ministry Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Tower Hill, Freetown.

Welcoming High Commissioner-Designate, His Excellency Henry John Omaku to the Republic of Sierra Leone, Prof. David Francis intimated the envoy that as the new Minister of Foreign and International Cooperation, he had brought to the Foreign Ministry a clear understanding of the priorities of the ‘New Direction’ Government of His Excellency, President Dr Julius Maada Bio.

Minister Prof. Francis went on to brief the High Commissioner-Designate on the new foreign policy shift from Economic Diplomacy to Development Diplomacy.

Development, he said, is the national interest of the “New Direction’s’ Government and that it is derived from the manifesto commitment and manifested in the Medium Term National Development Plan, the flagship human capital development of President focusing on education, health, agriculture and food security.

The shift, the Foreign Minister said, would focus on positioning the country as a small but inspiring and emerging country that is smart to focus on free education and to invest in long term sustainable future of the country as the new shift would look at strategic relationships with other countries.

Sierra Leone and Nigeria he said have had a strong cordial relationship that has spanned decades, and as the new Foreign Minister, he is going to continue to strengthen the bond between the two countries and that of the two Heads of States, their Excellencies, President Dr Julius Maada Bio and President Muhammad Buhari.

Minister Prof. Francis called on the High Commissioner-Designate to partner with Sierra Leone especially in the area of the training of diplomatic staff of the Foreign Ministry .

In his brief statement, High Commissioner -Designate, Mr Henry John Omaku once again congratulated Foreign Minister, Prof. David Francis on his new assignment as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

High Commissioner -Designate Omaku assured the Foreign Minister that he is in the country to put up his best in continuing to strengthen and deepen the already existing bilateral ties between Nigeria and Sierra Leone.

Speaking on his new role, he promised to partner with Sierra Leone, add value and bring in new innovations to ensure that things change in the right direction between the two sister countries with a view to creating an enabling environment for interaction and sharing ideas that would benefit the peoples of both countries.

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SIGNED 

Alimatu Fofanah

Head of Section Media and Public Relations Department

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation

OAU Drive, Tower Hill, Freetown, Sierra Leone

Website: www.mofaic.gov.sl

Email: media@mofaic.gov.sl

Contact: +232 78 861 822/77 713 939

New Foreign Minister meets with members of the diplomatic corps

Minister Professor David Francis Holds First Engagement with Members of the Diplomatic Corp

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Lebanon Charge d’Affairs, Mr Hadi Jaber Bids Farewell to Salone Foreign Minister

Press Release

The newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations, Prof. David J. Francis on Friday 7th May, 2021 held his maiden Engagement with members of the Diplomatic Corps in Sierra Leone at the Ministry’s main Conference Hall, Tower Hill, Freetown.

In her opening remarks, the newly appointed Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Madam Mamadi Gobeh Kamara expressed sincere appreciation to members of the Diplomatic Corp for honouring the invite in the spirit of good neighborliness, camaraderie and the friendship ties that have characterized the bond between Sierra Leone and the Diplomatic Corps.

The Deputy Minister commended the Diplomatic Missions in Sierra Loene for their immense contributions in the fight to combat the spread of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

Speaking on the issue of collaboration, Madam Mamadi Gobeh Kamara, echoed the enthralling essence for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to collaborate with the Diplomatic Community to share experience in various sectors.

She reaffirmed the importance of strengthening and deepening bilateral and multilateral relationship through enduring technical cooperation agreements and joint Commissions for Cooperation.

She concluded by assuring Members of the Diplomatic Corps of the cooperation of the new leadership at all times.

Speaking on the purpose of the meeting, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Prof. David J. Francis, apprised the envoys about a new shift in Sierra Leone’s Foreign Policy approach from Economic Diplomacy to Development Diplomacy.

This change, he said, has come as a result of the global crisis and its impact on the ‘New Direction’ Government which required a fundamental shift in the Foreign Policy approach and diplomatic posture of Sierra Leone to strategically position the country to convert and leverage the global challenges into unique opportunities for the ‘New Direction’ Government.

The shift, Prof. Francis said is based on the simple fact that economic diplomacy is only one form of diplomacy which include among others public, political, military vaccine, health diplomacies, and that it is not an end in itself, but a mean to an end, that end being is development/sustainable development in all its forms.

He added that the shift to Development Diplomacy is motivated by an increasingly diminishing global appetite for development assistance and foreign aid. A trend he said that had been necessitated by donor promotion of the concept of Trading out of Poverty’ ; the global COVID-19 pandemic and the international economic and financial crisis and, the attendant devastating impact on foreign aid to least developed and low income countries.

The Minister emphasized that the Diplomacy posture aims at to achieving Sierra Leone’s Development priorities and aspirations outlined in the Mid-term National Development Plan; the Human Capital Development flagship programme and the SLPP People’s Manifesto Commitment and that at the core of the new Development Diplomacy, is also the primary focus on Trade & Investment in all of Sierra Leone’s bilateral and multilateral foreign relations and diplomatic exchanges.

This, he said would increase Foreign Direct Investments, improve exports and support the President’s flagship Human Capital Development flagship programme, the Mid-term National Development Plan and the SLPP Manifesto commitments.

The Foreign Minister maintained that, central to the new Development Diplomacy, Trade and Investment Foreign Policy approach, is the deliberate and purposive choice to transform the country’s economy and achieve Middle-Income development status by tapping into opportunities around the world that will support & increase mutually beneficial economic and development relations in the country’s diplomatic exchanges.

He said, as a strategic priority, the Trade & Investment Development Diplomacy would promote in-country beneficiation and value-addition in all trade and investments opportunities attracted into Sierra Leone.

Ideologically, he said the new Development Diplomacy is about national respect and pride, about empowerment and ownership of the country’s Foreign Policy and Development destiny.

He concluded that, in the quest for the new Development Diplomacy Foreign Policy approach, Sierra Leone would continue to promote and positively work with traditional diplomatic friends and relations, as well as new and emerging partners within the context of the new framework to the pursuit of Sierra Leone’s Permanent interests that would protect and preserve the core national values with a primary focus on development.

Adding that this way, Sierra Leone would build a strong and credible Partnership for Development in all of her diplomatic relations.

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SIGNED 

Alimatu Fofanah

Head of Section Media and Public Relations Department

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation

OAU Drive, Tower Hill, Freetown, Sierra Leone

Website: www.mofaic.gov.sl

Email: media@mofaic.gov.sl

Contact: +232 78 861 822/77 713 939

Salone New Foreign Minister Interacts with the Media

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Lebanon Charge d’Affairs, Mr Hadi Jaber Bids Farewell to Salone Foreign Minister

Press Release

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Prof. David J. Francis on Thursday 6th May, 2021 interacted with a cross section of members of the Fourth Estate at a Press Conference held at the Ministry’s main Conference Hall, Tower Hill, Freetown.

Welcoming members of the Press, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof. David J. Francis said, since his appointment as the new Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and his engagement with the senior leadership of the Ministry, he has thought it wise to engage the media in a Press Conference to present a new Foreign Policy Shift.

He informed the media of his first official encounter with senior and junior members of staff of the Ministry where he had encouraged them that there is an opportunity to change and transform the Foreign Ministry to make it a forward looking, progressive, dynamic and an enterprising Ministry that will project Sierra Leone as a confident, emerging country that is set to become a middle income country.

The Foreign Minister said he had called the Press Conference to present to the media a new Foreign Policy shift which would explain the direction Sierra Leone is heading, the type of international environment it would face, and how it should position itself as a small country to maximize the opportunities of the international system, and at the same time present Sierra Leone in terms of its opportunities, its favourable social and economic climate, and its foreign policy posture among others.

Minister Prof. David Francis explained to the media that they, himself and Deputy Minister are bringing to the Foreign Ministry a vision to strategically align His Excellency President Bio’s ‘New Direction’ vision to that of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

Pro. David Francis said he would bring to the Foreign Ministry a strategic leadership focusing on competence, professionalism, clear knowledge and understanding of Foreign Policy and international cooperation to leverage the country’s role in the international system.

The new shift, he added, is to strategically position Sierra Leone in order to convert global challenges and crises into opportunities and to leverage those opportunities for the ‘New Direction’ Government. The shift, he told the newsmen is from Economic Diplomacy to Development Diplomacy as a national interest. He called on the media to help project the new Foreign Policy Shift to rebrand Sierra Leone.

He acknowledged the leadership of the former Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mrs Nabeela Farida Tunis for her relentless role played during her reign especially in reviewing the country’s Foreign Policy with clear recommendations.

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SIGNED 

Alimatu Fofanah

Head of Section Media and Public Relations Department

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation

OAU Drive, Tower Hill, Freetown, Sierra Leone

Website: www.mofaic.gov.sl

Email: media@mofaic.gov.sl

Contact: +232 78 861 822/77 713 939

New Foreign Minister Pro. David Francis and His Deputy Hold Maiden Meeting with Staff of MFAIC

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MFAIC Press Office Freetown: Wednesday 5th May, 2021: The newly appointed Sierra Leone Foreign Minister, Professor David J. Francis and the Deputy Minister, Madam Mamadi Gobeh Kamara on Wednesday 5th May, 2021 held their maiden meeting with staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation at the Main Conference Room of the Ministry, at Tower Hill Freetown.

Stating the purpose of the meeting, the Chairman, the Director of Administration and Finance, Mr Edward Kawa, told members of staff that, the meeting had been conveyed for the Minister and the Deputy to relay their vision on how the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation could align its operations with His Excellency President Bio’s ‘New Direction’ agenda within the framework of the National Medium Term Development Plan.

Welcoming the Minister and his Deputy on behalf of Management and Staff, the Director General and Ambassador-at-Large of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mrs Florence Nyawa Bangalie told members of staff that the newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs, Professor David J. Francis and the Deputy, Madam Mamadi Gobeh Kamara had assumed duty on Tuesday 4th May, 2021 following the 30th April, 2021 cabinet reshuffle.

She apprised staff that the first engagement of the Minister and Deputy had been to meet with Senior Management of the Ministry the very day of assuming duty. She added that the day was climate by a conducted tour of the Ministry’s facilities and the construction site of the proposed national Foreign Service Academy.

In her maiden address to members of staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the newly appointed Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Madam Mamadi Gobeh Kamara expressed delight in becoming a part of the foreign team.

She reiterated that they had assumed office with the aim to succeed and she encouraged members of staff to have a mentality to work together and to succeed together as a team in achieving the role and a mandate that had been given to them by His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio.

In the Keynote statement, the newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Professor David Francis said he is pleased to be Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Sierra Leone.

He reminded the session that he had started his role in governance as Foreign Minister-designate in April 2018 for the purposes of the Commonwealth Summit in London and the State Visit to Qatar, where he had successfully performed the responsibilities of a Foreign Minister and that with the reintroduction of the Chief Minister’s Office, Foreign Minister Francis continued, His Excellency thought it fit that it was necessary for his government to have an office to provide coordination, monitoring, supervision and performance management of 28 Ministries and that office, he had effectively held with excellent deliverables.

Speaking on his new assignment as Foreign Minister, Professor David Francis said, upon assumption of duty on Tuesday, 4th May, 2021, he had met with the DG and Directors, and had scheduled for a meeting with the people who really matter, the general staff of the Ministry who are as important as himself, the Foreign Minister.

“It is when we value the people we work with, it is when we give them a sense of ownership of belonging that they can do well and excel and they will excel beyond our expectations.” Foreign Minister, David Francis told staff.

The New Foreign Minister shared his vision with staff which he said among others is to bring out a clear understanding of President Bio’s vision of the ‘New Direction’ and to align same with the foreign Policy focus and posture of the country.

Minister Professor Francis emphasized that Sierra Leone needs a shift of foreign policy from Economic Diplomacy to Development Diplomacy to position herself for a post COVID-19 Era.

Minister, Professor Francis said he wants to ensure the alignment of His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio’s New Direction’s vision with the National foreign policy focus with the aim to transform the country into a respectable enterprise, dynamic and inspiring country that is respected internationally, starting from the sub-region to the continental and international levels.

He maintained that the New Direction vision is about taking Sierra Leone to the next level of progressive development as a middle income country.

This, he said, can be achieved by using diplomacy to engage bilaterally and multilaterally with non-state and non-state actors to make Sierra Leone an incredible place where everyone will be yearning to stay.

The Foreign Minister went on to state that the new administration of the Foreign Ministry is going to introduce Periodic Performance Management to ensure that the Ministry has excellent and competent staff, adding that they are going to create a professional, disciplined, determined, committed and aspiring Foreign Service and Foreign Ministry delivering for the national interest.

Delivering the closing courtesy, Mr. Sulay-Manah Kpukumu assured the new Minister and the Deputy of the preparedness of the diplomatic staff and other staff to support, learn and share in the new administration of the Foreign Ministry.

 

(MFAIC Press Office Freetown)