New U.S. Ambassador to the AU meets with Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to Ethiopia

The newly appointed United States Ambassador to the African Union, Stephanie S. Sullivan, has paid a courtesy visit to Ambassador Harold Saffa, the Chair of the C-10 Group of African Ambassadors in Ethiopia and Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to Ethiopia.

The meeting, held at the Sierra Leone Mission in Addis Ababa, underscored the strengthening of bilateral relations and strategic partnerships between the United States and Sierra Leone.

During the meeting, Ambassador Saffa emphasized Sierra Leone’s commitment to addressing global security issues as the current Chair of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the month of August. He highlighted Sierra Leone’s ongoing advocacy for the reform of the UNSC, particularly in securing a seat with veto powers for Africa. Ambassador Saffa described the United States as a “strategic and indispensable partner” in these efforts.

Ambassador Saffa conveyed that President Julius Maada Bio, in his capacity as the President of the UNSC, is determined to elevate Africa’s role in global affairs. He referred to President Bio’s recent speech, which called for rectifying the historical injustices faced by Africa and ensuring the continent plays a central role in international decision-making processes.

On the topic of U.S.-Sierra Leone bilateral relations, Ambassador Saffa expressed satisfaction with the strong ties between the two nations and thanked the United States for its continued development assistance, including the recent approval of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) compact.

In response, Ambassador Sullivan congratulated Sierra Leone on assuming the Presidency of the UNSC and praised the country’s experience and integrity. She reaffirmed the U.S. government’s readiness to collaborate with Sierra Leone on global challenges, including UNSC reform.

The two envoys also discussed regional and global security issues, including the ongoing conflicts in Sudan and the Sahel region. Ambassador Saffa expressed Sierra Leone’s appreciation for the United States’ efforts in pursuing a ceasefire in Gaza and reiterated Sierra Leone’s call for a permanent ceasefire and increased humanitarian aid for Gaza.

Additionally, Ambassador Saffa addressed global health challenges, particularly the Mpox outbreak, and appealed for U.S. support to the African Union’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Both ambassadors committed to strengthening bilateral and multilateral relations between their nations as they navigate critical global issues together.