By: Saidu Jalloh
Sierra Leone’s Minister of Internal Affairs, AIG (Rtd.) Morie Lengor Esq., has held high-level talks with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Sierra Leone, H.E. Saudi Al-Musaed, aimed at strengthening bilateral security cooperation and laying the foundation for a formal security partnership between the two countries.
The meeting, held at the Saudi Embassy on Scan Drive in Freetown, focused on expanding collaboration in areas including national security, counter-terrorism, regional peace and stability, and the fight against international drug trafficking and other forms of transnational organised crime.
During the discussions, Minister Lengor presented the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ Strategic Plan to Ambassador Al-Musaed, outlining the Ministry’s priorities, reform agenda, and the operational objectives of its affiliated agencies. He appealed for Saudi Arabia’s technical and institutional support in implementing the strategic plan and strengthening Sierra Leone’s security sector.
The Minister underscored the importance of sustained international partnerships in enhancing the country’s security architecture and improving the capacity of security institutions to respond effectively to emerging threats.
He noted that closer cooperation with Saudi Arabia would contribute significantly to strengthening border security, improving intelligence sharing, and enhancing institutional collaboration in addressing evolving regional and global security challenges.
In response, Ambassador Al-Musaed reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s commitment to supporting Sierra Leone’s efforts to promote peace, stability, and national security. He assured the Minister that the Kingdom values its longstanding relationship with Sierra Leone and would give due consideration to the Ministry’s request for support.
The meeting also served as an introductory courtesy visit, providing both parties with an opportunity to reaffirm the strong diplomatic ties between Sierra Leone and Saudi Arabia. Discussions highlighted the two countries’ shared commitment to combating international drug trafficking, organised crime, and other cross-border security threats through enhanced cooperation.
At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides reiterated their commitment to promoting regional peace and security and agreed to deepen collaboration on defence and counter-terrorism initiatives aimed at protecting citizens and strengthening stability across West Africa.
As a key outcome of the engagement, Minister Lengor and Ambassador Al-Musaed agreed to pursue the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Security Cooperation, which will formalise the partnership and provide a framework for closer institutional collaboration between Sierra Leone and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The proposed agreement is expected to strengthen bilateral relations while enhancing cooperation in intelligence sharing, capacity building, border management, and coordinated responses to emerging security challenges.
The ceremony concluded with light refreshments in a warm and celebratory atmosphere as the graduates bid farewell to Ambassador Yongawo and the staff of the Sierra Leone Embassy before embarking on the next chapter of their professional careers.