Credit: SHCU

The outgoing British High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, Guy Warrington, has over the weekend bid farewell to President Julius Maada Bio at State House.Presenting the High Commissioner, the acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alhaji Kanja Sesay said that after years of hard work, Mr. Warrington is leaving Freetown to prepare for another assignment. He added that over the years, the outgoing High Commissioner served Sierra Leone diligently.

Mr. Warrington, who is preparing for another assignment in Mali, said it has been an interesting three years working in Sierra Leone. He recalled taking up duty in the country during the post-Ebola period and after which the British Government undertook many post-Ebola reconstructions, adding that that was the period in which British assistance to the country reached its highest level in a long time.

He stated that UK was glad to have contributed in the electoral process that was peaceful, fair, credible and transparent and the subsequent peaceful transfer of power. He said the United Kingdom remains the biggest bilateral donor to Sierra Leone and that had been a long commitment through which the UK Government had been able to support Sierra Leone.

He added: “We have been able to support the security sector in the country, particularly the RSLAF and now through the support of DfID, we are focusing on the education sector. I hope my successor will be able to continue the good job I have been doing and to further strengthen the relationship between the two countries. It was a pleasure to work with you,” he noted.

In his response, President Bio thanked the outgoing High Commissioner for his service to Sierra Leone and for further strengthening the relationship between the two countries. He said Mr. Warrington had been a great partner who had represented the UK very well in Sierra Leone during which the two countries had widened their relationship.

“We want to thank you particularly for the role you played in the aftermath of the Ebola outbreak and the elections which were very difficult moments. The British military assistance has also been another area of cooperation in which the UK has done quite a lot and we want you to continue to support the military establishment here because we have so much in common. We hope to have a similar and better relationship with your successor as we have always hoped to keep a very good relationship with the UK,” he said.