On Sunday 3rd September 2023, the Deputy Minister of Defence (DMD) Republic of Sierra Leone, Colonel (Rtd) MB Massaquoi and team visited the Egyptian Armed Forces in Cairo in a bid to strengthen defence diplomacy and military cooperation between the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces and Egyptian Armed Forces.
The Minister and his team were received in Cairo, by His Excellency Ambassador Sidiq Silla, Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to the Arab Republic of Egypt, and Major General Mohamed Mohamed Abdellah, Assistant Minister of Defence for Operations and head of the Egyptian delegation at the Egyptian Armed Forces Operations Authority.
Speaking during the conference, the DMD remarked that the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Republic of Sierra Leone had a long-standing bilateral military cooperation dating back to the commissioning of two sets of Officer Cadets in 1972/1976 and subsequent years. The essence of the visit to Cairo is to deepen the existing relationship between the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces and the Armed Forces of the Arab Republic of Egypt. The Diplomatic and Defence engagement commences from Sunday 3rd and will end on Thursday 7th September 2023.
According to the Deputy Minister of Defence, the conference would look into the Government of Sierra Leone’s aspirations to better the lives of its citizens in its big five agenda encompassing: agriculture, health, infrastructure, youth empowerment, human capital and infrastructural development, border security and sustainable energy. It was further aimed at signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will set the stage for more and future potential areas of engagement. Additionally, it’s a laudable initiative that will keep the cooperation between the two Armed Forces.
The DMD stressed that, it is worth noting that both countries appreciate the draft Memorandum of Intention and Memorandum of Understanding. Hence, the MOIs/MOUs would look into other line Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) that would partner with the MoD/RSLAF to benefit from the cooperation that will be forged in the Cairo conference.
He furthered that, through a joint needs assessment and market evaluation, they aim to partner with the Egyptian Investors to develop novel health care services and interventions at the 34 Military Hospital. Consequently, they would improve the scope and quality of health care services and achieve the competitive goal of a level 4 United Nations referral hospital for the West African sub-region.
Colonel (Rtd) MB Massaquoi was grateful to the Egyptians for extending the invitation and receiving the delegation, thereby strengthening the mutual relations, cooperation and collaboration between the two sides in various military fields. He emphasized on the readiness of the MoD/RSLAF to expand effective coordination and cooperation between the two friendly countries in various military aspects.
As head of the delegation, the DMD as a politician and an experienced retired Military Officer assured his counterpart of Government’s commitment to enter into this bilateral agreement that will be of shared benefit to both countries and people.
He concluded by accenting that he is delighted and extremely pleased to be part of history making in signing the Joint Military Cooperation and Memorandum of Understanding between the MoD/RSLAF and the Arab Republic of Egypt Armed Forces before the end of the engagement.
In his response, Major General Mohamed Mohamed Abdellah expressed his sincere thanks and appreciation for Sierra Leone’s response to the invitation. He expressed optimism that the joint committee’s aim is to exchange expertise and point of views in the framework of supporting and strengthening the bonds of military cooperation in a number of areas in relation to future visions of both countries.
He highlights that the engagement will achieve the desired benefits and bear fruits at the regional level. At the end of the initial engagement, the DMD and team were taken on a conducted tour to the Egyptian arsenal for inspection on various kinds of military equipment. Other members of the Sierra Leonean delegation included Brigadier General AB Conteh, Assistant Chief of Defence Staff, Training and Doctrine, Lieutenant Colonel Momoh Emmanuel Luseni-Esq, Staff Officer Grade 1, Directorate of Defence Legal Services, His Excellency Ambassador Sadiq Silla, Samuel Alie Kargbo and Mona Zaghloul. The Deputy Minister of Defence and team will arrive home at the end of the week.
Directorate of Public Relations and Information
Ministry of Defence
Tower Hill
Freetown
