AYV News, July 20, 2026
Gambian President Adama Barrow has described the newly commissioned Julius Maada Bio International Conference Centre as “a monument to Sierra Leone’s vision, mission, and confidence,” commending the country’s growing leadership role in promoting regional cooperation and development.
Speaking during the official commissioning ceremony, President Barrow congratulated the Government and people of Sierra Leone on the landmark achievement, saying the state-of-the-art facility reflects the country’s commitment to strengthening regional diplomacy and international engagement.
He highlighted the longstanding ties between Sierra Leone and The Gambia, noting that the two countries share more than geographical proximity and membership of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
“Our nations are united by a shared history of resilience, democracy, peace, and regional integration,” President Barrow said, stressing that the new conference centre stands as a symbol of the aspirations of the people of Sierra Leone and the wider West African region.
Also addressing the ceremony, President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, disclosed that the ECOWAS logistics depot—initially established to support peace operations and personnel logistics across the region—is being expanded into a multi-dimensional regional facility.
According to Dr. Touray, the transformed depot will support humanitarian response, disaster relief operations, emergency medical assistance, disease prevention and control, as well as specialised training for personnel engaged in regional peace and security missions.
He said the upgraded facility reflects ECOWAS’ evolving mandate to respond not only to security threats but also to humanitarian crises and emerging public health challenges affecting member states.
The commissioning of the Julius Maada Bio International Conference Centre and the upgraded ECOWAS facilities marks another significant milestone in Sierra Leone’s efforts to position itself as a regional hub for diplomacy, peacebuilding, international conferences, and multilateral cooperation.
The event formed part of activities leading to the ECOWAS Summit in Lungi, where Heads of State and Government are meeting to discuss regional peace, security, democratic governance, economic integration, and sustainable development across West Africa.
