Sierra Leone, Morocco Set New Roadmap to Strengthen Bilateral Ties
Sierra Leone and Morocco have agreed on a structured, action-oriented roadmap to deepen and diversify bilateral cooperation across key areas of mutual interest.
The agreement was reached on Monday between Morocco’s Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and his Sierra Leonean counterpart, Mohamed Rahman Swarray, on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly session.
The two ministers welcomed the longstanding relations between the two countries, anchored in friendship, mutual respect and solidarity, and pledged to further strengthen ties under the leadership of King Mohammed VI of Morocco and President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone.
The ministers identified trade, agriculture, fertiliser, investment, water management, fisheries, mining, cultural exchange and capacity building as priority areas for expanded cooperation, in line with Sierra Leone’s development priorities.
Both sides agreed to develop an ambitious and forward-looking framework in the coming weeks, with plans to renew and sign a new comprehensive roadmap building on previous achievements and providing greater coherence to bilateral cooperation.
Minister Swarray also accepted an invitation from his Moroccan counterpart to undertake a working visit to Morocco in October 2026, with the specific date to be determined through diplomatic channels.
During the meeting, Sierra Leone reaffirmed its support for Morocco’s territorial integrity and sovereignty over its entire territory, including the Sahara region, and endorsed Morocco’s Autonomy Plan as the basis for resolving the Western Sahara dispute.
Freetown also expressed support for the efforts of the United Nations Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy to facilitate the political process and advance negotiations towards a just, lasting and mutually acceptable resolution.
Sierra Leone further commended King Mohammed VI’s strategic initiatives, including the African Atlantic States Initiative and the Royal Initiative to Enhance Atlantic Ocean Access for Sahel Countries, describing them as important steps towards regional integration, connectivity and sustainable development.
The two ministers also underscored the strategic importance of the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline project, noting its potential to strengthen regional economic integration and benefit participating countries, including Sierra Leone.
They welcomed the signing of the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) during the Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government held in Freetown in July 2026, describing the gas pipeline project as a potential catalyst for unlocking the region’s industrial potential and addressing its energy deficit.
Both sides commended Morocco’s promotion of South-South cooperation through its strategic initiatives, describing the approach as an important instrument for African solidarity and development.
They also expressed their willingness to strengthen diplomatic coordination and consultations within regional and international fora.
The ministers reaffirmed their commitment to the fundamental principles of international law, particularly respect for state sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as the peaceful settlement of disputes.