Madam Zainab Bangura, whose service at the UN ended on 31 March 2017, has returned home recently and called at the presidency to specifically thank President Koroma for her secondment to the UN mission in New York. She is the fourth Sierra Leonean and first female to serve at the level of Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) of the UN.

Making her statement, the former SRSG said she served in 19 countries in all continents where she worked with the justice system, security sectors, ministries of foreign affairs and several stakeholders. She also worked in seven countries that are prone to terrorist attacks around the world.

Madam Bangura further noted that her experience as Minister of Health and Sanitation as well as Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in President Koroma’s government helped her significantly in discharging her duties at the UN. During the Ebola epidemic, she was part of the United Nations committee for emergency response to the outbreak and was the most senior officer of the three most hit countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. She also stated that in the midst of her challenges, she was very proud of being a Sierra Leonean and assured of her continued service to the nation.

President Koroma earlier expressed delight over the excellent performance by Madam Bangura in a very high capacity at the world’s premier body.

“I know you have the capacity to go the extra mile and that was why I did not exercise any doubt in mind in my recommendations.”

He acknowledged her efforts to support the nation during the unprecedented Ebola outbreak and thanked her for making Sierra Leone proud.

The president disclosed that he received lots of praises for her outstanding performance at the UN and expressed hope that she would remain engaged in her next endeavour to serve the country.