Freetown, July, 2025 (SLENA)
In a significant stride towards bolstering international relations and environmental stewardship, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has ratified two major Agreements with it bilateral partner, the Republic of Kazakhstan, and the United Nations.
During a parliamentary session that took place on July 22, 2025, Minister Alhaji Musa Timothy Kabba formally presented the agreements for approval. The first is a bilateral Visa Waiver Agreement, facilitating the free movement of diplomatic and service passport holders between Sierra Leone and Kazakhstan. The second is an international treaty under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), focusing on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (BNJ).
Addressing Parliament, Minister Kabba stated that Sierra Leone’s foreign policy is rooted in the constitutional authority granted under Section 10(c), and guided by the directive of the President. The policy’s core aim is to forge new strategic alliances while nurturing existing diplomatic ties, especially in a complex, multipolar global landscape.
He recalled that during the high-level segment of the 78th United Nations General Assembly on September 20, 2023, Sierra Leone and Kazakhstan signed an agreement to waive visa requirements for diplomatic and service passport holders. Once ratified, this accord will facilitate easier travel for officials and citizens of both nations, nurturing closer cooperation and unlocking new opportunities for trade and investment.
The Minister also presented another significant agreement under the UNCLOS, which seeks to protect marine biodiversity across global oceans beyond national borders. He highlighted that climate change remains a grave threat to Sierra Leone, ranked among the top 20 most vulnerable countries worldwide according to the Notre Dame Global Adaptation Index (ND-GAIN). Rising sea levels, frequent flooding, devastating mudslides, and the spread of encroaching seaweed have severely impacted communities and livelihoods since 2016.
Over the past 20 years, the United Nations has worked tirelessly to develop a treaty that expands jurisdiction over marine resources beyond individual countries. Supported by over 90 nations, with 16 ratifications to date, Sierra Leone’s endorsement will position it as a pioneer in West Africa for marine biodiversity conservation.
The Minister reassured Parliament that these agreements aim to deepen bilateral relations and facilitate the free movement of goods and services without compromising national sovereignty or territorial integrity. He clarified that participation in the UNCLOS framework pertains strictly to areas beyond Sierra Leone’s territorial waters, protected under the 1982 UNCLOS treaty, and poses no threat to sovereignty.
Furthermore, he referenced successful international collaborations, such as the supply of COVID-19 vaccines by the United Arab Emirates during health crises, underscoring the positive impacts of such partnerships.
In closing, minister Kabba expressed gratitude to Parliament for its ongoing support, assuring lawmakers that the agreements would be ratified and implemented effectively to promote Sierra Leone’s development, security, and environmental sustainability.
Credit: Correspondent Amara Kargbo
