The High Commissioner of the Republic of Sierra Leone in Abuja, Nigeria, and Chairman of the ECOWAS Permanent Committee, His Excellency Julius F. Sandy paid an official courtesy visit to the Liberian Embassy today. During the visit, His Excellency Sandy underscored the importance of strengthening bilateral relations and fostering greater collaboration between Sierra Leone, Liberia, and the broader ECOWAS community. He said the primary objective at the moment was to strengthen MRU solidarity.
High Commissioner Sandy highlighted Sierra Leone’s current role as Chair of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), emphasizing the critical need for united efforts and robust partnerships among member states of ECOWAS to address regional challenges effectively. He reiterated Sierra Leone’s commitment to advancing regional integration, peace, security, and economic development in West Africa.
He praised Liberia for its continuous support and partnership within ECOWAS and expressed optimism that the coalition of West African states can work collaboratively to enhance stability, promote trade, and improve the welfare of their peoples.
High Commissioner Sandy also highlighted key regional issues, including efforts to combat terrorism and general insecurity, fostering economic resilience, and promoting democracy and good governance and called for renewed cooperation, shared strategies, and mutual support among ECOWAS member states to achieve these objectives.
His Excellency Sandy also expressed appreciation for the longstanding cordial relationship with Liberia and reiterated his government’s commitment to further strengthening the already tried and tested diplomatic, economic and social relations between the two countries.
In response, the Charge d’Affaires at the Embassy of the Republic of Liberia in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Ambassador Robert Y. Lormia, II, warmly welcomed his brother home and expressed profound gratitude to the Government and People of the Republic of Sierra Leone for their continued friendship and collaboration with Liberia.
Ambassador Lormia underscored the historical, cultural, and social ties that bind the two sisterly nations, and described the visit as a testament to the enduring partnership between Liberia and Sierra Leone, rooted in shared values, mutual respect, and a common vision for peace and prosperity in the Mano River Union and the West African sub-region.
Ambassador Lormia pledged Liberia’s unflinching support and cooperation to Sierra Leone during her Chairmanship of ECOWAS because the achievements of the Chairmanship of Sierra Leone will be a credit to the Mano River Union, which, he said was the oldest sub-regional organization in West Africa
Ambassador Lormia recounted moments where Liberia and Sierra Leone have jointly shared moments of joy like the formation of the MRU as well as suffering like the period of the devastating civil wars, Ebola, and COVID-19, noting, “we survived the worst and will remain strong and firm in standing together in the face of any conditions “
He highlighted challenges facing the sub-region, including insecurity, border disputes, organized transnational crimes, social and economic disparities, youth unemployment, climate change, threats to democracy and good governance, which, he noted, require collective and firm collective and collaborative actions to decisively deal with.
Ambassador Lormia reaffirmed Liberia’s readiness to work closely with Sierra Leone and other neighboring countries through bilateral frameworks, and other regional platforms to address these shared concerns.
The two envoys emphasized a stronger and vibrant Mano River Union architecture that will reinvigorate stronger partnership in commerce, economic and social integration, security and stability. This diplomatic engagement highlights Liberia’s unwavering commitment to peaceful coexistence, regional solidarity, and the promotion of African unity and integration.
