The decision to open a diplomatic Mission in Morocco reflects the excellent diplomatic relations that exist between our two governments and demonstrates our government’s commitment to expanding Sierra Leone’s global footprint abroad, as exemplified also by the opening of the General Consulate in Dakhla, Kingdom of Morocco. It signals a determination to explore new markets and strengthen Sierra Leone’s presence in North Africa.
It is against this backdrop, that His Excellency, Mr. Atumanni Dainkeh, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Sierra Leone to the Kingdom of Morocco, since August 2021 wasted no time in embarking on residential bilateral courtesy visits to Resident Missions in the Kingdom of Morocco, starting with the Mano River Union (MRU), ECOWAS, Asian friends and other European countries. From all indication, this move sits well with the New Direction’s diplomatic aspirations which seek to broaden and strengthen Sierra Leone’s diplomatic interest and to foster existing cordial relations with friendly countries.
In the spirit of promoting and advancing the country’s interest and that of our Sierra Leonean compatriots resident in, or doing business in the Kingdom of Morocco, the Embassy embarked on the following:
- Galvanized the Sierra Leone Community into a well-structured body with a functional executive represented by members from each city in the Kingdom.
- Developed a comprehensive data base for all Sierra Leoneans in the Kingdom of Morocco.
- To further consolidate our relationship with them, we agreed to be holding quarterly meetings at the Embassy.
- We gave a dignified burial to two Sierra Leoneans who were in mortuary for over four months prior to the opening of the Embassy.
- In collaboration with the International Organization for Migration in the Kingdom of Morocco (IOM), we have facilitated voluntary repatriation to the Republic of Sierra Leone for a considerable number of Sierra Leonean Destitutes living in the Kingdom of Morocco.
- We had a courtesy meeting with the Director of Prisons in the Kingdom of Morocco to ascertain the number of Sierra Leoneans in prisons and the nature of crimes committed, to be followed by a visit to the different prison facilities to get first-hand information on their situations.
- The Embassy has submitted names of Sierra Leoneans without resident permit in the Kingdom of Morocco for immigration amnesty that will guarantee their stay in the Kingdom.
Similar engagement was also done with the Sierra Leone Students in the Kingdom of Morocco. We assisted them in addressing diverse problems faced in their academic pursuits and the restructuring of their Student Union as well as the development of a constitution.
In breaking the lance of diplomacy, a Roadmap of Cooperation that constitutes Education, Agriculture, Trade and Investment, Health, Tourism, Visa exemption to name but a few, was signed by Professor David J. Francis, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Sierra Leone. Several other strategic meetings were held with the Minister of Harbours and Islamic Affairs, the Director General of the Moroccan Intelligence Agency, Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy and the Director General of Moroccan Agency for International Cooperation.
This strategic collaboration with the Kingdom of Morocco has given rise to several remarkable benefits to the nation of Sierra Leone in the following areas:
- An increase in scholarships for Sierra Leone students to pursue further studies in the Kingdom of Morocco from 15 to 105.
- We are pushing for the approval of additional scholarship for Hajj and training of Imams.
- With the support and guidance of Professor David J. Francis, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Sierra Leone, we secured a clear and emphatic support from the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco for Sierra Leone’s bid for a Non-Permanent Seat at the United Nations Security Council 2024-2025. In the given circumstance, the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco has consented to support in providing the necessary resources and expertise throughout the campaign period. This intervention is significant giving that Morocco has won elections for the said seat at the UN twice and on one occasion, the Kingdom won the election for the same seat representing Africa, even though at the material time they were not part of the African Union (AU).
In a bid to further expand and foster Sierra Leone’s diplomatic foot-prints in the Kingdom of Morocco, the Embassy of Sierra Leone in Rabat assembled a host of prominent Moroccan investors in a meeting at the Embassy on Saturday 28th August, 2021, during which several investment and trade opportunities were deliberated on. Sierra Leone was presented as an ideal business environment that guarantees a reliable break even and the possibility of improving their businesses. The Moroccan investors assured us of their fullest cooperation and commitment which will be demonstrated by a high-level investment visit to the Republic of Sierra Leone in early 2022. As a show of commitment, they have put together a Sierra Leone Morocco Investment Forum which is in its advance stage in collaboration with SLEPA.
These moves were consistent with the reality that modern day diplomacy requires the involvement of reliable strategic partners in the areas of international cooperation to shape a country’s diplomatic agenda.
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