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Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has sought support from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for Sierra Leone’s bid for a seat in the United Nations Security Council in the Non-Permanent category for 2024- 2025. According to a report by the Information Attaché at the Embassy Abubakarr Bah.
In his statement, Professor David J. Francis commended his counterpart, Prince Faisal Bin Al Saud, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, for the warm hospitality accorded him and his delegation since their arrival in the Kingdom.
He added that he was in Riyadh to further strengthen the four-decade-long bilateral ties between the two countries.
The Minister then made a case for Sierra Leone as a candidate in the United Nations Security Council Bid as a Non-Permanent Member for 2024 – 2025.
“Your Excellency, I am pleased to inform you that Sierra Leone is now a sole African Union candidate for a seat in the U.N Security Council in the Non-Permanent category for 2024 – 2025, In other words, Sierra Leone is part of the African clean slate and Sierra Leone will join the Democratic Republic of Congo for election in June 2023,” he said
He added “We will always and we have always voted for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, so now is the time for us to look forward to a big brother to back us as well as to mobilize support from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and your allies to vote for Sierra Leone,” Professor Francis said.
In response, the Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prince Faisal Bin Al Saud, said he was delighted at his counterpart’s visit, noting that the two countries should focus on deepening their bilateral ties spanning four decades.
Prince Faisal Bin Al Saud described Sierra Leone as “a shining beacon for post-war peacebuilding and state reconstruction and an example of what small states can do on the global stage.”
“Your Excellency, we are very grateful for your support towards Saudi Arabia Expo 2030 bid. What I also heard from you is encouraging especially in your government’s drive to building Human Capital development, especially in the area of Free Quality Education,” he said, adding that “On your Security Council bid, your Excellency, be rest assured we are inclined to be supportive to your candidacy and I will take it up further to my leadership. You are clearly a very credible candidate, be rest assured that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is behind you,” the Saudi Foreign Minister assured.
