By: Thaimu Bai Sesay
On the day of Muslims traditional festival, Eid-ul-Fitr, Friday 21st April, 2023, the Chinese Embassy in Sierra Leone has donated 600 50kg bags of rice and other food items to the Ministry of Social Welfare on behalf of the Muslim community in Sierra Leone.
“As usual, as a friendly gesture to support our Muslim brothers and sisters in SL, the Chinese Embassy donates some food to the Muslim community through the major Muslim and Islamic organizations. Here are the items: 30 tons of rice (600 bags, 50kg per bag), 600 litres cooking oil (30 cartons, 20 litres per carton), 1.5 tons of sugar (30bags, 50kg per bag),” H.E. Ambassador Wang noted on his statement at the handing over ceremony.
The Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone Wing Wang continued by expressing his wish that the donation would help the religious organizations in Serra Leone in providing support to the less privileged persons and communities. Since over 70 percent of Sierra Leone’s populations are Muslims, he further expressed hope that their genuine effort could help to strengthen the friendly relationship between the people of the Republic of China and the people of Sierra Leone and also consolidate the foundation of China-Sierra Leone relationship.
Ambassador Wing Wang wished all the Muslim brothers and sisters in Sierra Leone “Eid Mubarak”! He wished Sierra Leoneans to continue to preserve Sierra Leone as a shining example of religious harmony and also prayed for the relationship between Sierra Leone and China to last forever.
The Minister of Social Welfare, Baindu Dassama thanked the Ambassador and the Government of the People’s Republic of China for the wonderful support they had been giving to Sierra Leone. The minister said that the donation came at the right time which was the very day of the Eid and said the people were really going to be in need of it, despite the end of their month of fasting (Ramadan). She also acknowledged the long-standing good relationship between Sierra Leone and China and wished it continual existence.
The National Secretary General of the Supreme Islamic Council Sierra Leone, Sheikh Ibrahim Barrie was very appreciative over the donation. He said that was not their first time of receiving valuable donations from the Chinese Embassy. “This is not the first time we have been receiving this type of valuable assistance, even during the Ebola we received a very good support, during the Corona we received support, last year also during the holy month of Ramadan we received support, this year 2023 we are receiving this support,” he recalled.
On behalf of the Muslim community, Sheikh Ibrahim commended the People’s Republic of China for the continued supports. The Secretary assured of disseminating the message to all the Muslims in the country. He prayed for the continual existence of the relationship between the two countries. He reinforced that during the leadership of His Excellency President Bio they had seen lots of supports from China and said they were very happy for that and were very grateful.