Sierra Leone’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed Barrie, paid a courtesy call on the Hon. Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah (Cee Bah), at the Youyi Building to discuss ways to deepen bilateral cooperation and support the country’s national priorities.
During the meeting, Ambassador Barrie and Minister Bah discussed the Government’s “Big Five” agenda and how stronger relations with Saudi Arabia could help the country’s development goals. The Ambassador briefed the Minister on existing areas of cooperation between Sierra Leone and Saudi Arabia, and they discussed ways to expand collaboration, particularly in development-related sectors.
Sierra Leone’s active participation in the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) was a hotly debated topic. Ambassador Barrie emphasised the strategic importance of OIC membership, citing the organisation’s size and reach, and discussed practical ways Sierra Leone could benefit even more from its affiliation. In this context, both officials discussed potential collaboration between the Ministry of Information and Civic Education and the OIC’s International Islamic News Agency (IINA), with a focus on capacity-building initiatives.
Strengthening the capabilities of the Sierra Leone News Agency (SLENA) received special attention. In order to improve public communication and civic education, the Ambassador and Minister looked into ways to improve SLENA’s efficiency in news production and distribution through professional development, training, and information sharing.
Minister Bah expressed gratitude for Ambassador Barrie’s visit and constructive dialogue. Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to continued engagement, identifying the Embassy and the Ministry as partners in fostering mutually beneficial initiatives that will strengthen Sierra Leone-Saudi Arabia relations and, ultimately, improve service delivery to Sierra Leoneans.
