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Sierra Leone has drawn attention to emerging global security risks and the need for stronger international cooperation, as the country’s Ambassador to the Russian Federation, Mohamed Yongawo, participated in the First International Security Forum of High-Ranking Security Officials held in Moscow from 26 to 29 May 2026.
The forum, which brought together senior security officials and experts from various countries, focused on the theme: “Challenges and Threats to International Security in the Context of the Emergence of the Multipolar World.”
Addressing the gathering, Ambassador Yongawo examined the implications of the shifting global order, noting that the rise of a multipolar world presents both opportunities and significant security challenges. He stressed that the changing international system demands renewed commitment to dialogue, cooperation, and multilateral engagement.
He warned that the absence of a single dominant global authority increases the risk of miscommunication and miscalculation among major powers, potentially complicating efforts to manage shared security threats.
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“We are entering a multipolar era characterized by dispersed influence and fluid alliances,” he stated, adding that Africa is increasingly central to global geopolitical transformations.
Ambassador Yongawo further observed that intensifying competition over strategic resources, technological advancement, and geopolitical influence could heighten tensions in regions including Europe, the Middle East, the South China Sea, and parts of Africa.
He also highlighted growing concerns over non-state actors, including terrorist groups, cybercriminal networks, and transnational organized crime syndicates, which he said are exploiting instability in the international system to expand their operations.
The Ambassador additionally warned that climate-induced insecurity and the spread of advanced weapons systems are compounding existing global risks, calling for coordinated and collective international responses.
“No one country can make the world a safer place,” he declared. “It has to be a collective responsibility, and even the smallest nations are equally important to global peace and security.”
He emphasized that security should not only be viewed in military terms but also in relation to justice, opportunity, and hope, noting that instability in one region can have wider global consequences.
Delivering greetings from President Dr. Julius Maada Bio, Ambassador Yongawo expressed appreciation to President Vladimir Putin and the Government of the Russian Federation for their hospitality during the forum.
He also noted Sierra Leone’s ongoing commitment to regional peace and stability, referencing President Bio’s role as Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and efforts to strengthen cooperation across West Africa.
Concluding his remarks, the Ambassador encouraged participating nations to deepen collaboration and enhance knowledge-sharing in pursuit of a more stable and secure global future.
Ambassador Yongawo was accompanied at the forum by Mr. Ibrahim Saspo Sankoh, Head of Chancery, and Ms. Rosetta M. Conteh, Esq., First Secretary at the Sierra Leone Embassy in Moscow.
