Ishmael Bayoh, Information Attachè, Sierra Leone Embassy Dakar, Senegal
Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to Dakar, His Excellency Ibrahim Turay has received in audience officials from the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) where they explained about their 2025 retreat.
They informed the Ambassador that IDEA’s Fourth Annual retreat for Regional Economic Communities and African Union Special Envoys and High Representatives will hold from September 14-16 2025 in Dakar, Senegal.
Explaining further about the retreat, Dr. Maurice Engueleguele, Senior Adviser Constitutional Building Processes said this year’s theme will be “A Changing Global Dynamics and the Future of Regional Mediation towards Peace and Constitutional and Democratic Governance in Africa”.
The retreat is to build on the successes of the previous three editions held in Nairobi (2024), Abuja (2023), and Banjul (2022) as it will offer an open, effective forum where senior officials from African regional organizations, special envoys, constitutional and peace building specialists and leading civil society voices will engage in frank strategic conversations on the evolving role of the regional economic communities amid rapid geopolitical shifts, fading multilateralism and intensified great power competition.
Ambassador Turay re-emphasized the significant role played by Sierra Leone in regional issues as President Julius MaadaBio is now the Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS. He informed them that President Bio had visited some ECOWAS member states and was in Dakar over the weekend to build consensus on his emerging plans to foster unity, peace and security in the region.
The fourth annual retreat will host about 50 high level participants in an interactive plenary on country focused sessions.
