By: Musa Momoh Esq.
New York, USA – On the side-lines of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Alhaji Timothy Musa Kabba held successful bilateral discussions with his Finnish counterpart, *Hon. Elina Valtonen, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland.
During the meeting, both ministers reaffirmed their strong commitment to multilateralism, emphasizing the critical importance of collective action in addressing today’s global challenges. The talks highlighted Sierra Leone’s active leadership role at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and its coordination of the African Union’s Common African Position (CAP) on the reform of the UNSC, which continues to place Africa’s demand for greater representation at the center of global decision-making.
Additionally, both ministers also explored new avenues of cooperation between Sierra Leone and Finland. Foreign minister of Finland recommitted to expanding their investments in Sierra Leone’s forest conservation programs, recognizing the country’s rich biodiversity and its role in combating climate change.
Finland equally pledged to support women’s empowerment initiatives, underscoring the shared commitment of both nations to gender equality and inclusive development.
Equally important, on regional security, Sierra Leone and Finland pledged to deepen collaboration with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) under the astute leadership of President Julius Maada Bio in tackling the rising threat of violent extremism in West Africa and the Sahel. The discussions also underscored Sierra Leone’s role to ECOWAS, reinforcing the need for coordinated strategies to safeguard peace and stability in the sub-region.
The bilateral meeting concluded on a positive note, with both parties reaffirming their commitment to strengthen ties between Sierra Leone and Finland, particularly in the areas of peace, security, climate resilience, and sustainable development.
