In the presence of Ambassadors from the ECOWAS region and staff members from the Sierra Leone Mission, the ECOWAS’ dean, Ambassador Amma of the Republic of Ghana, said that Amb. King will be missed for his devotion and commitment to the ECOWAS group.
Nonetheless, she stated that Amb. King’s term was characterized by great accomplishments for the African Union, ECOWAS, and his native Sierra Leone.
Several ECOWAS ambassadors who spoke at the dinner had similar sentiments.
The significance of Amb. King’s duty as the Republic of Sierra Leone’s ambassador to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia was also emphasized by the Embassy staff.
The dinner was climaxed by the presentation of a plaque to Amb King by the Dean of the ECOWAS group in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Revered Departure For Ambassador King
In the presence of Mr. Antonio M.A. Pedro, the Ag. Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Ambassador King took leave from his position as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Sierra Leone to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the AU and UNECA-on Friday, October 14, 2023, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
During their conversation, the Ag. Executive Secretary greeted Amb. King as he joined the ECA, wished him well in his new role as Minister of the Western Area, and complimented him on his successful tenure as Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, with accreditations to the UNECA and AU. Through Amb. King, the Ag. Executive Secretary also congratulated the Government and People of Sierra Leone on H.E. Dr. Julius Maada Bio’s re-election.
He also emphasized Amb. King’s crucial contribution in fortifying and expanding ECA’s ongoing partnership with the Sierra Leonean government and urged him to carry on working together even in his capacity as a minister. Along with highlighting the importance of cooperation, the Ag. Executive Secretary also mentioned working with the National Statistics System of Sierra Leone and developing the country’s carbon market.
In addition, he said the ECA is making a concerted effort to organize UNECA Member States in order to achieve the aims and objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Amb. King was also informed by the Ag. Executive Secretary that UNECA would assist in facilitating competitive goods from Sierra Leone through Ali Baba. According to the Ag. Executive Secretary, Sierra Leone must build a tourist Satellite account programme, from which other nations have greatly profited, in order to maximize the potential for tourist earnings. He concluded by discussing UNECA’s reform of the Global Financial Architecture, which intends to increase Africa’s fiscal flexibility.
In his response, Amb. King expressed his gratitude to the Ag. Executive Secretary to UNECA, noting that his appointment as Ambassador came at a time when the entire world was dealing with the Covid-19 and its associated effects. Nevertheless, they were able to communicate and cooperate in a way that benefited both parties. Amb King expressed his deep gratitude to the UNECA for helping Sierra Leone obtained the Covax vaccines and for assisting Sierra Leone in creating a National Trade Policy.
In spite of being outside of Ethiopia’s jurisdiction, Amb King notified the Ag. Executive Secretary that in his new position as Minister of the Western Area, he would cooperate with UNECA and connect other MDAs.He also applauded the Carbon Market Initiative and reminded the Ag. Executive Secretary that the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary Forestry had received 3 million dollars in funding from the World Bank, all of which were intended to promote ecotourism. Amb King concluded by saying that his successor would carry on his work and Sierra Leone is anticipating more joint projects with the UNECA.
Africa Union, Diplomatic Community…
(Africa Union Chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat in a boisterous mood with the outgoing Ambassador Adekunle King)
(Friendly Exchange …)
In a very solemn ceremony at the African Union Commission, Ambassador Adekunle J.M King
Informed the Chairperson of the African Union Commission and Staff of the Commission present, that he was at the Commission to bid farewell to AUC, an institution he served diligently during his tenure as Ambassador of Sierra Leone from March 2020 to October 2023.
Ambassador King noted that he took up office at the height of COVID 19 pandemic when lock dock restrictions were put in place by majority of countries to combat the deadly corona virus which claimed scores of lives and decimated economies and livelihoods across the continent and beyond.
Ambassador king further noted that it was a very difficult time to be a diplomat as the usual diplomatic niceties in the form of dinners and social evenings in abeyance.
In spite of all the challenges wrought on our work multilateral diplomats, remarkable gains were achieved as highlighted by Ambassador King.
The Sierra Leonean diplomat ascribed this to the astute and dynamic leadership of the AUC Chairperson His Excellency Mousa Faki Mahamat. That through his leadership, Africa was able to disprove doomsday prophets who feared that that the deadly COVID 19 viruses would transform Africa into a graveyard. He applauded the firm position of the Chairperson on COVID vaccine equity which ensured that the continent was not left behind once approved vaccines were available on the market.
Ambassador King that Africa owe immense gratitude to the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for his insightful leadership as he lends credence to the proposition that it is in moments of crisis that leadership is most essential.
The Outgoing Sierra Leone Ambassador noted that his service to the Commission included, Chair of the Permanent Representative Committee on Refugees Returnees and internally displaced persons, Chair of the PRC Sun Committee on Environment, Chair of the C 10 Ambassadors on the reform of the United Nations Security Council.
The Sierra Leonean envoy thanked the Chairperson of the Commission for proactive measures put to place to strengthen the protection of refugee’s returnees and asylum seekers and help rebuild their lives. Ambassador king also cited that at the Sun Committee on environment, they have been brainstorming strategies to help tackle displacement trigged by climate change and innovative climate finance mechanism to deal with the dangers of climate for which Africa contributes very little but suffer the most
Ambassador king also highlighted that the AU and Sierra Leone had enjoyed excellent bilateral relations with Sierra Leone been the politically and cultural centre of pan Africanism and the beacon from which light spread to the rest of darkness Africa
Ambassador king expressed optimism that with Sierra Leone in the UN Security Council Non-Permanent Category, there will be strengthened partnership to reboot multilateralism and Representative Approach to address the global peace and security challenges confronting our world and as we work together for the attainment of AU agenda 2063 the Africa, we want
Ambassador King concluded that, as Ambassador Extraordinary Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Sierra Leone to the African Union his time is up; but in serving the continent of Africa, he is not done yet and hopes that his Successor will continue his good work at the African Union Commission.
