Morocco, Sierra Leone Committed to New-Generation 2024-2026 Cooperation Roadmap – Joint Communiqué –

e Kingdom of Morocco and the Republic of Sierra Leone expressed, on Tuesday in Rabat, their full commitment to consolidate, boost and widen the scope of their cooperation, expressing their willingness to conclude a new generation cooperation roadmap for the 2024-2026 period. In a joint communiqué released following talks between the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Sierra Leone, Timothy Musa Kabba, Sierra Leone welcomed the cooperation actions undertaken within the framework of the 2021-2023 cooperation roadmap in the fields of agriculture, fisheries, health, renewable energy, and tourism. Bourita and Kabba also celebrated the strong bonds of brotherhood, solidarity, support, and understanding between the Moroccan and Sierra Leonean peoples, the mutual esteem between His Majesty King Mohammed VI and His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio, as well as the shared desire to make Morocco-Sierra Leone partnership an exceptional model of intra-African cooperation, based on values of solidarity, exchange, and sharing. Likewise, both parties acknowledged the accomplishments and expressed satisfaction with the outcomes of the third joint commission held on April 28, 2023, in Dakhla, which reinforced the ambitions of both countries to make further progress and strengthen the bonds of friendship, solidarity, and cooperation. The two ministers also expressed their commitment to implement bilateral agreements aimed at promoting a long-term win-win partnership between the Kingdom and Sierra Leone to explore new horizons to unleash vast potential in economic, social, and cultural realms. According to the joint communiqué, both parties also expressed their willingness to steer bilateral relations towards shared prosperity and committed to enhancing cooperation in areas prioritized by Sierra Leone such as trade, agriculture, fertilizers, investment, water, fisheries, mining, investment, cultural exchange, capacity building, and tourism, which constitute Sierra Leone’s strategic axes in accordance with the high directives of H.E. President Julius Maada Bio. Furthermore, the two ministers highlighted the common ambitions and shared objectives of both countries to meet the expectations and vision of the two Heads of State, His Majesty King Mohammed VI, and His Excellency Julius Maada Bio, advocating for the reinforcement of their joint action towards an effective partnership, serving progress, development, well-being, and above all, the realization of the common aspirations of two nations. Moreover, both parties agreed to hold the bilateral cooperation mechanism meeting, co-chaired by the two foreign ministers, during this year, the joint communiqué indicates, adding that the dates will be agreed upon through diplomatic channels. Acknowledging the success of the Moroccan business mission to Freetown in January 2024, both parties expressed the willingness to establish a strong economic partnership and create an enabling environment to enhance and strengthen their economic exchanges to contribute to economic growth and mutual development. On the other hand, Bourita extended his best wishes to Sierra Leone for its new mandate as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the period 2024-2025. He emphasized that Morocco remains committed to working together with Sierra Leone to develop a common vision for international peace and security, while rejoicing in the promotion of cooperation to achieve peaceful solutions to international and regional disputes. Furthermore, Bourita praised the remarkable development that the Republic of Sierra Leone has experienced in recent years under the enlightened leadership of His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio. In this regard, he reaffirmed the commitment of the Kingdom of Morocco to contribute to the efforts made by the government of Sierra Leone through numerous initiatives and positive policies aimed at further stimulating economic and social development.