Sierra Leone has taken steps to deepen its defence and security cooperation with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia following its participation in the Third Edition of the World Defence Show 2026 (WDS2026) held in Riyadh from 8 to 12 February.

The Sierra Leone delegation was led by Deputy Minister of Defence, Colonel (Retired) Muana Brima Massaquoi, and included the Chief of Army Staff, Major General Kemoh Tewoh Sesay, and Military Executive Assistant, Colonel John Zhoud Kailie. The global defence exhibition was organised by the General Authority for Military Industries in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and held under the patronage of King Salman.

The event brought together defence institutions, security companies and government representatives from around the world to showcase developments in land, maritime, air, security and space technologies. According to officials, Sierra Leone’s delegation used the platform to explore equipment and innovations aimed at strengthening the operational capacity of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF).

During the exhibition, the Deputy Minister participated in the inaugural ceremony officiated by Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Defence, Khalid bin Salman. A key engagement of the visit was a bilateral meeting with Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister of Defence, Abdulrahman Muhammad bin Ayyaf.

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Discussions between the two sides focused on enhancing bilateral defence relations and expanding cooperation in counter-terrorism efforts. Colonel Massaquoi conveyed greetings from Sierra Leone’s President, Julius Maada Bio, and expressed appreciation for Saudi Arabia’s continued support to Sierra Leone, including Hajj scholarships and collaboration through the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC).

The Sierra Leone delegation also formally requested support for the establishment of an IMCTC Centre of Excellence for Counter-Terrorism in Sierra Leone. The proposed centre is intended to serve as a regional hub for West Africa, aimed at strengthening capacity building and coordinated responses to terrorism.

In response, Abdulrahman Muhammad bin Ayyaf welcomed the proposal and indicated that he would raise the matter during upcoming strategic discussions, underscoring the longstanding ties between the two countries.

Sierra Leone’s participation in WDS2026 reflects ongoing efforts by the government to enhance defence capabilities and expand international security partnerships amid evolving regional and global security challenges.