Sweden opened a Consulate in western Freetown, Sierra Leone, a process the Foreign Ministry Director General, Ambassador Victoria Sulimani, described as “a direct testament to the excellent bilateral relations that have evolved over the past years…”.
Sweden’s Honorary Consul is Harish Agnani, who will now be serving a dual role as consul for Sweden and Norway, with both consulates housed in the same building at Rawdon Street, Central Freetown. Agnani expressed gratitude to Sierra Leone’s Foreign Minister and the Liberia-resident Swedish Ambassador to Sierra Leone and Liberia, Urban Sjostrom, for their significant roles and support in the process of entrusting him the responsibility.
“Your presence today is a testament to our shared goals and the robust partnership that we aim to build”, Agnani said, promising to uphold and promote the values and interests that define the relationship between Sweden and Sierra Leone. “I am dedicated to fostering our mutual objectives and ensuring that our collaborations are marked by success and lasting friendship”, he assured. Sjostrom said he was excited that Sweden has been able to open the Swedish Honorary Consulate in Freetown.
“This constitutes evidence of the long-standing relations between Sierra Leone and Sweden”, he remarked. He expressed hope for the implementation of Sierra Leone’s agreement of national unity. Though there could be challenges, he said, opportunities to prosper exist for Sierra Leone by coming together as a nation and working strategically with development partners, the business sector, civil society, and academia.
Ambassador Sulimani recalled that the relationship between Sierra Leone and Sweden “gained considerable impetus in the 1980s” when Sweden Commenced its in-country cooperation programme in Sierra Leone, focusing on Sierra Leone’s social protection policies and programmes, including the empowerment of women, girls and human capital development.
She recounted that the generosity of the Swedish Government has been impactful to Sierra Leone over the years, in the education and health sectors. “Swedish support to our educational system facilitated the return of half a million children back to school in 2002 and 2005…Today, some of our communities have become the direct beneficiaries of your cooperation…”, she recalled. The establishment of the Swedish Consulate in Freetown, she noted, was the high point of bilateral relations, which will serve as a major catalyst for further strengthening and deepening of relations to the mutual benefit of both peoples.
