South Korea’s President Yoon Seok-yeol hosted a high-profile visit by President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone during the recent Korea-Africa Summit.

This summit served as a platform to solidify relations between the two countries, with a key outcome being the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). This agreement paves the way for increased trade and investment opportunities between South Korea and Sierra Leone.

The discussions between the presidents delved into potential areas of collaboration. Notably, Sierra Leone’s possible involvement in the K Belt project, a Korean infrastructure initiative, was explored. As fellow non-permanent members of the UN Security Council, both leaders highlighted the importance of upholding global security and shared values.

Moving towards concrete action, South Korea’s First Deputy Director of National Security, Kim Tae-hyo, announced plans to establish a dedicated dialogue system focused on supply chains. This system aims to ensure stable access to crucial minerals for both nations.

President Yoon further emphasized South Korea’s commitment to fostering deeper engagement with Africa. He has scheduled a series of summits with roughly 25 African countries by early July. These summits aim to explore areas of mutual interest and solidify strategic cooperation between South Korea and the continent.