Vice President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Dr Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, has reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and expanding economic and development cooperation with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The Vice President made the commitment on Monday, September 21, 2026, when he joined members of the Saudi Arabian community, diplomats, senior Government officials, representatives of international organisations and other distinguished guests at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Freetown to commemorate Saudi Arabia’s 96th National Day.
Dr Jalloh served as Guest of Honour at the celebration, which provided an opportunity to highlight Saudi Arabia’s history, national achievements, cultural heritage and development progress, while also celebrating the longstanding friendship between Sierra Leone and the Kingdom.
Representing President Julius Maada Bio, the Government and people of Sierra Leone, Vice President Jalloh extended warm congratulations to the leadership and people of Saudi Arabia on the occasion of the Kingdom’s National Day.
He underscored the importance of the relationship between Sierra Leone and Saudi Arabia, noting that the two countries have continued to maintain cordial diplomatic ties and cooperate in several areas, including trade, investment, healthcare, education, humanitarian assistance and religious affairs.
The Vice President emphasised the potential for further expanding economic relations, particularly through productive and sustainable investments capable of creating employment, strengthening trade and generating economic opportunities for citizens of both countries.
He said Sierra Leone remained committed to working with Saudi Arabia to identify and promote areas of mutual interest, particularly initiatives that could contribute to national development, economic growth and improved livelihoods.
Dr Jalloh further highlighted the importance of deepening partnerships with international allies as Sierra Leone seeks to attract investment and mobilise resources for development. He encouraged continued engagement between the two countries to translate their diplomatic relations into practical economic and development outcomes.
Speaking during the celebration, Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Suad Al Musaed, highlighted the Kingdom’s growing support to Sierra Leone, particularly in the areas of healthcare, education, humanitarian assistance and religious affairs.
The Ambassador pointed to the longstanding relations between the two countries and expressed the Kingdom’s continued interest in strengthening cooperation with Sierra Leone across sectors of mutual benefit.
Saudi Arabia has maintained diplomatic relations with Sierra Leone for decades, with cooperation extending beyond government-to-government engagements to include humanitarian and social development initiatives.
The celebration also provided an opportunity for Sierra Leonean officials to welcome greater Saudi participation in the country’s economic and development sectors.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Madam Jeneba Bangura, congratulated the leadership and people of Saudi Arabia on the occasion and commended the Kingdom for its development achievements and humanitarian assistance to Sierra Leone.
Madam Bangura described Saudi Arabia as an important bilateral partner and said Sierra Leone welcomed increased Saudi investment in sectors with significant potential to contribute to sustainable economic development.
She specifically identified agriculture, mining, renewable energy, infrastructure, tourism and human capital development as areas where greater cooperation and investment could provide opportunities for both countries.
The Deputy Minister stressed the importance of strengthening bilateral engagement and creating an environment that encourages investment, technology transfer and partnerships capable of supporting Sierra Leone’s development priorities.
The National Day celebration brought together representatives of Sierra Leone’s Government, the diplomatic community, the Saudi Arabian community and international organisations, creating an avenue for cultural exchange and the strengthening of people-to-people relations.
The event also reflected the broader diplomatic and economic ties between Sierra Leone and Saudi Arabia, while underscoring the shared interest of both countries in expanding cooperation for mutual benefit.
As Sierra Leone continues to pursue investment, economic diversification and human capital development, officials expressed the hope that the existing relationship with Saudi Arabia would evolve into deeper partnerships across strategic sectors.
The celebration therefore served not only as a commemoration of Saudi Arabia’s national heritage and achievements but also as an occasion to reaffirm the commitment of Sierra Leone and Saudi Arabia to strengthening their friendship and advancing diplomatic, economic, humanitarian and development cooperation.