Ambassador of Switzerland to Senegal, Andrea Semadeni, is seeking collaboration with Sierra Leone as the country takes a seat in January 2024 at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in the non-permanent category. In a courtesy visit on Wednesday 13th December to the Sierra Leone Ambassador to Senegal, Alhaji Brima Elvis Koroma, the Swiss Ambassador congratulated Sierra Leone’s election to the UNSC and called for collaboration especially, on the United Nations Office for West Africa and also on climate change. On 9 June 2022, the UN General Assembly elected Switzerland as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.
H.E Semadeni explained Switzerland’s experience at the UNSC, its long-standing commitment to peace and development in the region, with a focus on the protection of civilians, sustainable peace and climate security, also complements the priorities set out by UNOWAS. The mandate of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel was extended by the UN Security Council for a further three years. As the Security Council’s co-penholder on UNOWAS and in line with its foreign policy, Switzerland supports the office’s activities. UNOWAS has been active in 16 countries in the region since 2002.
Welcoming the collaboration, the Sierra Leone Ambassador explained that Sierra Leone achieved a significant milestone on 6th June 2023, when it was elected to the non-permanent seat on the UNSC for the period 2024 to 2025. Highlighting some of the experiences and issues Sierra Leone will be taking to the UNSC, H.E Alhaji Brima Elvis Koroma said Sierra Leone, as the Chair of the African Union Committee of 10 (C-10) for the reform of the UNSC, will aim to share experiences with the rest of the world- from war to peace, from epidemics to elections, good governance, human rights, stability, press freedom, women and youth empowerment. “We will be advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment, as we passed the groundbreaking Gender Equality and Women Empowerment Act last year 2022. This legislation ensures a minimum quota of 30% for women in elective positions, appointed roles” H.E Alhaji Brima Elvis Koroma stated. The two Ambassadors agreed to collaborate at the UNOWAS level as well as liaise with their Permanent Representatives at the United Nations.
