Seoul, Republic of Korea, September 2025: Sierra Leone’s Minister of Youth Affairs, Ibrahim Sannoh, has successfully concluded a ten-day official working visit to the Republic of Korea culminating to a courtesy call on His Excellency Ban; Ki-Moon, former United Nations Secretary-General, at his office in Seoul.
During the meeting, Minister Sannoh expressed Sierra Leone’s deep appreciation to Ban Ki-Moon for his enduring support to Africa throughout his tenure highlighting the critical role he played in advancing the continent’s development agenda.
The Minister also briefed the former UN chief on the status of the Youth Report 2025, emphasizing the Sierra Leonean Government’s commitment, together with development partners, to fully implement the report’s recommendations. He appealed for the inclusion of Sierra Leone in the development programs of the Ban Ki-Moon Foundation, particularly in climate change adaptation, promotion of smart agriculture, and advocacy for sustainable youth development.
In extending Sierra Leone’s openness to deeper collaboration, Minister Sannoh formally invited H.E. Ban Ki-Moon to attend and grace the upcoming Mano River Youth Union Summit, to be hosted in Sierra Leone.
In his response, H.E. Ban Ki-Moon warmly described Sierra Leone as “a home,” recalling that he had appointed Sierra Leoneans to critical leadership positions within the UN system during his tenure, noting with pride that they performed with distinction. He emphasized his longstandingtory commitment to youth and women empowerment, referencing his appointment of the first UN Youth Envoy during his service as Secretary-General.
“The youth are the best hope,” remarked Ban Ki-Moon, encouraging the Government of Sierra Leone to prioritize women’s advancement and youth empowerment as the cornerstone of its development agenda.
He further reaffirmed his commitment to Sierra Leone, pledging to work towards the inclusion of Sierra Leone in the strategic initiatives of the Ban Ki-Moon Foundation, the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), and the Global Centre on Adaptation (GCA).
Minister Sannoh’s visit to South Korea facilitated a number of strategic engagements and partnerships, with discussions held around youth empowerment, innovation, climate resilience, and sustainable agriculture. The visit underscores the Government of Sierra Leone’s commitment, under the leadership of H.E. President Julius Maada Bio, to strengthening bilateral and multilateral partnerships in advancing the country’s human capital development and accelerating opportunities for young people.
