Minister of Social Welfare, Mrs. Melrose Kaminty, has welcomed the newly appointed Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Sierra Leone, Ambassador Saud Al Musaed, during a courtesy visit aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and promoting cooperation between the two countries.

The meeting, held at the Ministry of Social Welfare, formed part of Ambassador Al Musaed’s efforts to familiarise himself with the Ministry’s mandate and ongoing programmes.

Speaking during the engagement, Mrs. Kaminty expressed appreciation to the government and people of Saudi Arabia for their continued support to Sierra Leone, particularly in facilitating the annual Hajj pilgrimage for Sierra Leonean Muslims. She described the relationship between Sierra Leone and Saudi Arabia as “strong and enduring.”

The Minister also highlighted the broad responsibilities of the Ministry of Social Welfare, including the oversight of religious affairs, protection of vulnerable women and children, youth welfare, disability support services, anti-human trafficking initiatives, and assistance for returning migrants.

Related News

Mrs. Kaminty further raised concern over the increasing problem of drug and substance abuse among young people in the country. According to her, there is an urgent need for expanded rehabilitation centres, psychosocial counselling, and medical treatment services to address the growing crisis affecting the youth population.

On social development initiatives, the Minister announced plans by her Ministry to commemorate the International Day of Families through a nationwide awareness campaign aimed at promoting family unity and social cohesion. She said activities planned for the programme include a family health walk, counselling sessions, and wellness programmes.

Addressing issues of national cohesion, Mrs. Kaminty warned against rising religious tensions fueled by social media, noting that inflammatory rhetoric threatens Sierra Leone’s long-standing tradition of peaceful coexistence between Muslims and Christians.

She disclosed that the government, working together with religious leaders, has signed a communiqué promoting religious tolerance and is currently developing a national policy on social cohesion and interfaith harmony.

Mrs. Kaminty stressed that Sierra Leone must continue to be recognised globally for its enduring legacy of religious tolerance, unity, and peaceful coexistence, rather than division and extremism.

Earlier, Ambassador Saud Al Musaed highlighted key areas of cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Sierra Leone. He referenced his recent participation in the farewell ceremony for Sierra Leonean pilgrims departing for Hajj, stating that his remarks at the event focused on strengthening religious and cultural ties between the two nations.

The Ambassador also disclosed that Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Education has opened applications for international students through the “Study in Saudi” platform, offering Sierra Leonean students opportunities to pursue higher education in various disciplines.

He further revealed that Sierra Leonean participants have been invited to take part in a Holy Quran memorisation competition organised by the Saudi Ministry of Defence, reaffirming the Kingdom’s commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors.

The courtesy visit underscored the continued diplomatic and social partnership between Sierra Leone and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, particularly in the areas of education, religion, and social welfare.