Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio reiterated his support for a two-state solution as the only sustainable path to achieving lasting peace in the Middle East. His remarks came during a joint press conference with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in Cairo, where he also reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s commitment to strengthening ties with Egypt.
The two leaders held discussions on a wide range of issues, focusing on enhancing cooperation in trade, agriculture, education, health, infrastructure, energy, defense, fisheries, and tourism. President Bio encouraged increased private sector participation between the two countries and urged businesses to explore investment opportunities that could benefit both economies.
Security challenges were also a key focus of the talks, with President Bio emphasizing the need to address threats such as terrorism and piracy. He highlighted the importance of ongoing peace efforts in Sudan, Libya, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, stressing the need to protect civilians in conflict zones and ensure the timely delivery of humanitarian assistance, particularly across Africa.
As a member of the UN Security Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council, President Bio underscored Sierra Leone’s commitment to supporting peace initiatives and promoting a unified African position on UN reforms.
President El-Sisi welcomed President Bio at Al-Ittihadiya Palace on Thursday, where an official reception included the playing of national anthems and an inspection of the guard of honor. The bilateral talks concluded with the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding aimed at enhancing cooperation between the two nations.
During the press conference, President El-Sisi praised the strong historical ties between Egypt and Sierra Leone, acknowledging the progress made since the 1960s. He highlighted that the discussions demonstrated the shared commitment of both nations to strengthening their partnership.
“Our talks emphasized the importance of expanding cooperation in capacity-building, particularly in agriculture, irrigation, infrastructure, fisheries, and food security,” President El-Sisi said. He also stressed the need to accelerate economic and investment relations to achieve sustainable growth.
The meeting underscored the shared vision of Egypt and Sierra Leone in promoting regional stability and fostering deeper bilateral ties, setting the stage for broader partnerships in the future.