By Mamajah Jalloh
The Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Hon. Kenyeh Barlay, has met with Cuba’s Ambassador to Sierra Leone, H.E. Norma Sánchez Águila, to explore opportunities for stronger bilateral cooperation in investment, healthcare, education, agriculture, fisheries and professional training.
The meeting took place on Friday, October 23, 2026, during a courtesy visit by the Cuban Ambassador and her delegation to the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED) at Tower Hill, Freetown.
The engagement brought together the Director of South-South and Triangular Cooperation at MoPED, Dr. Robert Mokowa, senior planning officers and members of the Cuban delegation to discuss practical ways of strengthening the longstanding relationship between the two countries and aligning Cuba’s expertise with Sierra Leone’s development priorities.
Ambassador Sánchez Águila reaffirmed Cuba’s commitment to deepening bilateral relations. Recalling her meeting with Minister Barlay in 2025, when she presented her diplomatic credentials to President Dr. Julius Maada Bio, the Ambassador expressed appreciation for the warmth and hospitality extended to her by the Minister.
She also commended Sierra Leonean students studying in Cuba, describing them as intelligent, disciplined and committed to their country. She praised their academic performance and conduct, highlighting the practical hospital training provided to medical students and the Cuban Government’s support for outstanding students.
The Ambassador expressed confidence that the knowledge and skills acquired by these students would contribute significantly to Sierra Leone’s development. She encouraged government officials to engage professionals trained in Cuba and recognize their specialized expertise.
As an example of Cuba’s medical capabilities, she highlighted the Frank País Orthopedic Scientific Complex, renowned for its specialized orthopaedic surgery and rehabilitation services. She also referred to Dr. Daniel Alfredo Lasayo, a physiotherapist who reportedly spent five years working in Cuba and serves in Sierra Leone’s military.
Healthcare featured prominently in the discussions, particularly a proposal to establish a specialized diabetes centre in Sierra Leone. The Cuban delegation explained that it had previously engaged the Ministry of Health and Pharmaceuticals on the initiative but had yet to achieve the desired progress.
The delegation therefore sought MoPED’s support in coordinating the proposal and identifying a practical way forward, given the Ministry’s role in facilitating development initiatives and mobilizing relevant stakeholders.
Ambassador Sánchez Águila explained that the proposed centre could provide specialized diabetes care, professional training and knowledge transfer. Drawing on Cuba’s experience in Mozambique, she offered to contact the Cuban Ambassador there to facilitate discussions with the private operator of a diabetes clinic, enabling Sierra Leonean stakeholders to learn from the initiative.
Minister Barlay welcomed the proposal but emphasised the need for a proper assessment of its feasibility and the identification of sustainable financing arrangements. She noted that possible options could include public-sector funding, private investment or a public-private partnership.
The Cuban delegation also submitted written notes on a cancer-related proposal and requested follow-up discussions to establish its current status and assess its potential contribution to Sierra Leone’s healthcare system.
Beyond healthcare, the Ambassador highlighted Cuba’s expertise in agriculture and fisheries, including lobster and shrimp production. She expressed her country’s willingness to provide technical specialists to support areas where Cuban knowledge and experience could benefit Sierra Leone.
She further encouraged partnerships between local institutions, private-sector actors and Cuban experts to explore financing and implementation arrangements. Citing examples of Cuban technical cooperation in other African countries, she noted that such partnerships could promote skills transfer, strengthen local capacity, equip young people with practical skills and create employment opportunities.
The Ambassador also commended the resilience of African women and praised Minister Barlay’s commitment to children, women and the welfare of the population. She described the Minister as a dedicated leader and applauded the Ministry’s teamwork and collaborative approach.
Reflecting on the historical ties between Sierra Leone and Cuba, Abubakarr Kamara highlighted the longstanding solidarity between the two countries and the contribution of Sierra Leoneans trained in Cuba to sustaining those relations.
He also referred to an association established by Sierra Leonean students to promote solidarity with Cuba, noting that some Sierra Leoneans had pursued medical studies there through government scholarships. He emphasised the importance of strengthening connections among Cuba-trained professionals to support national development.
Dr. Robert Mokowa welcomed the discussions and commended the achievements of Sierra Leonean students and professionals trained in Cuba. He linked the engagement to MoPED’s work on developing bankable projects, stressing the importance of identifying practical areas of cooperation and ensuring that proposals align with the country’s development priorities.
He underscored the need to translate the longstanding relationship between the two countries into tangible results through coordinated planning, public-sector involvement and the development of viable projects.
As part of the proposed follow-up actions, Minister Barlay suggested that Dr. Senesie, a Cuba-trained alumnus, help advance efforts to establish a diabetes association. She also proposed creating an alumni network for Sierra Leoneans trained in Cuba to connect professionals, showcase their expertise and explore opportunities to apply their knowledge and experience to national development.
Minister Barlay further recommended that MoPED prepare a comprehensive report outlining the meeting’s key recommendations and follow-up actions. She proposed a dedicated South-South cooperation session at which the Cuban Ambassador and her team could present their country’s expertise and identify specific areas of cooperation for consideration by relevant sector ministers.
The proposed session would provide an opportunity to assess the various initiatives, establish priorities and identify practical interventions that could be developed into concrete development projects.
A follow-up meeting was proposed for January 2027 to review progress and advance discussions on the identified areas of cooperation.
The engagement reaffirmed the shared commitment of Sierra Leone and Cuba to building on more than five decades of bilateral relations through practical cooperation in healthcare, education, agriculture, fisheries, professional training and investment, in support of Sierra Leone’s development priorities.