Sierra Leone Strengthens Ties with South Korea at 2025 Korea-Africa Senior Officials’ Meeting
Sierra Leone joined over 40 African nations at the 2025 Korea-Africa Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM), held at the Lotte Hotel in Seoul, to enhance diplomatic, economic, and development cooperation with the Republic of Korea.
Representing Sierra Leone, Ambassador Paul Sobba Massaquoi reaffirmed the country’s enduring friendship with South Korea, dating back to 1962, emphasizing mutual respect, solidarity, and shared economic vision. He highlighted cooperation in education, culture, youth development, and diplomacy. Ambassador Massaquoi was accompanied by Patricia S. Kamara, Deputy Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Agnes Mbayo, Counselor and Acting Head of Chancery at the Sierra Leone Embassy in Korea.
The SOM was co-chaired by Chung Eui-hae, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Korea, and Ambassador Albino Malungo of Angola, representing the African Union. Senior officials from African governments, Korean ministries, and public institutions attended the high-level discussions.
The meeting reviewed progress since the 2024 Korea-Africa Summit and explored strategies to strengthen collaboration in trade, investment, infrastructure, science and technology, climate change, food security, health, and cultural exchange.
In her opening remarks, Deputy Minister Chung Eui-hae praised Korea’s growing partnership with Africa and reaffirmed commitment to shared growth, sustainability, and solidarity, highlighting efforts in digital innovation, public health, agriculture, and people-to-people exchanges. Ambassador Malungo emphasized Africa’s potential, citing its 1.4 billion people and growing markets, while urging increased investment and infrastructure development.
Key initiatives discussed included:
• Korea–AfCFTA Cooperation Fund to support trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
• Expansion of infrastructure projects including roads, railways, ports, and smart cities.
• Tech4Africa and Global Korea Scholarships (GKS) to promote digital innovation and education.
• Support for climate resilience and food security through the K-Ricebelt Project, already active in Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau, and Côte d’Ivoire.
• Strengthened cooperation in healthcare, peacekeeping, and cultural exchange.
Both sides agreed to reconvene in June 2026 for the Korea-Africa Ministerial Meeting to continue advancing the partnership for shared prosperity.
Participating nations included Sierra Leone, Algeria, Angola, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Senegal, and others.
Michaella Bonnie
Information Attache Embassy of Sierra Leone
Seoul
Info@sierra-leone.or.kr
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