Sierra Leone and South Africa have signed a Visa Waiver Agreement for holders of Diplomatic and Service/Official Passports between the two countries.
The signing of the Visa Waiver Agreement seeks not only to cement the existing strong relations between the two countries, but more importantly, it will mark the beginning of operationalizing cooperation on free movement of state officials and human capital development in the two countries.
The signing of the agreement manifests a quick win that has a long-term benefit in consolidating the ties between Sierra Leone and South Africa.
This occurred on the invitation of Dr. GNM Pandor, Minister of Internal Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa to Professor David John Francis, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Sierra Leone, at Cape Town, South Africa from 22nd to 24th February 2023.
The Sierra Leone Foreign Minister was accompanied by the Director-General and Ambassador-at-Large of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Sierra Leone.
The invitation was aimed at deepening and strengthening the existing bilateral ties between Sierra Leone and South Africa.
The two ministers agreed on the critical need for Sierra Leone and South Africa to sign a Joint Cooperation Commission in the areas of Mining, Energy, Infrastructure, Agriculture, Defense, with emphasis on increasing production, as well as developing Agro processing capabilities, higher education and research development, Arts and Culture and Trade and Investment.
They further discussed and reviewed progress on economic, political and technical cooperation between the two countries. They also exchanged views on regional and multilateral issues.
The South African Minister reiterated her country’s support for the Chairmanship of Sierra Leone of the African Union Committee of Ten on the Reform of the United Nations Security Council.
Both Ministers agreed to have more strategic engagements, both in the public and private sectors to achieve the common goals and objectives of the two countries.