On Wednesday, May 24, 2023, within the framework of the West Africa Electoral Peer Support Initiative, Mohamed Kenewui Konneh, the Chief Electoral Commissioner, representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Guinea.

The purpose of the MoU is to establish an agreement for the use of 11,000 Guinean ballot boxes in the upcoming elections in Sierra Leone, scheduled for June 24, 2023.

The signing ceremony is organized jointly by the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation, which is responsible for elections administration in Guinea, and the Sierra Leonean Embassy in Guinea. The Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation, Mory Conde, chairs the ceremony. Several ministers are present, including the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, African Integration and Guineans Abroad, Agriculture & Breeding, and Post and Telecommunications, namely Dr. Mory-Sanda Kouyate, Mr. Muhamadu Nagnalein Barry, and Mr. Ousmane Gawal Diallo, respectively.

During the ceremony, Mr. Mory Conde, on behalf of the Guinean Government, expresses his country’s commitment to fostering bilateral relationships with Sierra Leone and providing assistance when needed. He highlights Guinea’s role as a pioneer of Pan Africanism and emphasizes the importance of promoting exchange of ideas and materials in the area of government within Africa.

Dr. Mory Sanda Kouyate, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, explains that according to the MoU, Guinea will provide eleven thousand (11,000) empty ballot boxes to the ECSL to support the upcoming elections in Sierra Leone.

In response, Chairman Mohamed K Konneh conveys warm greetings from the Government and People of Sierra Leone, acknowledging the historical and familial ties between the two countries.

He expresses gratitude to the Guinean Authorities for their generosity, emphasizing that their support motivates the ECSL to work even harder to ensure the successful conduct of credible elections in Sierra Leone.

Chairman Konneh assures that the electoral materials will be well taken care of and returned in good condition. He acknowledges the significant impact that Guinea’s support will have on their success.

Finally, the meeting concludes with the official signing of the MoU between the two countries.