Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. A high-level delegation from the British High Commission, led by Kathleen Reid, Deputy High Commissioner, has paid a courtesy visit to the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED) and the ECOWAS Logistics Depot in Lungi.
The delegation also included Kezia Exley, Deputy Sahel Envoy; Hamish Tye, UK Political Envoy to ECOWAS; Christopher Howells, Political Secretary; and Amalara Jalloh, Political Officer at the British High Commission.
The visit aimed to strengthen cooperative dialogue and explore opportunities for enhanced support to the ECOWAS Logistics Depot. Discussions focused on identifying intervention areas and addressing capacity gaps, including training programmes, technical assistance, and other critical needs required to fully operationalize the facility.
The engagement reaffirmed the United Kingdom’s strong commitment to promoting sustainable security, good governance, and capacity-building across the ECOWAS region.
Welcoming the delegation, the Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Madam Kenyeh Barlay, expressed appreciation for the visit and acknowledged the UK’s continuous support. She described the engagement as timely, particularly as Sierra Leone currently chairs ECOWAS and is preparing to host a series of major ECOWAS activities, including the 2026 ECOWAS Summit.
Madam Barlay highlighted several strategic priorities championed by His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio, including economic integration, restoring constitutional order, deepening democratic governance, and strengthening regional security. She noted that President Bio’s leadership—especially his engagements with the heads of state of Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Guinea—reflects a firm commitment to stability and solidarity within the ECOWAS community.
The Minister also outlined the achievements and challenges associated with the full operationalization of the Logistics Depot, citing staffing needs, furnishing, and other logistical gaps that require urgent attention.
Mr. Komba Momoh, Deputy Development Secretary III and Head of the ECOWAS National Office at MoPED, emphasized the importance of capacity-building for national staff, improved coordination, and shared technical expertise to ensure the Depot becomes fully functional. He noted that these efforts align with ECOWAS’ current drive to recruit civilians into peace support operations, particularly within administrative cadres. He further appealed for support in furnishing and equipping the facility.
The British delegation shared insights into their support to other ECOWAS member states, including capacity development, communications systems strengthening, technical assistance for peacekeeping operations, and diplomatic information training through Terms of Reference and Memoranda of Understanding.
During the visit, the delegation expressed admiration for the scale and quality of progress made at the ECOWAS Logistics Depot, noting that they were impressed by the level of development and infrastructure being hosted in Sierra Leone. They commended the government and its partners for the strides taken to ensure the facility becomes a strategic asset for the region.
Providing added perspective, Dr. Robert Moikowa, Technical Adviser , ECOWAS National Office, noted that ECOWAS continues to intensify its focus on conflict resolution and resilience building, working to transition fragile contexts into sustainable peace through inclusive democracy, deeper economic integration, and secure communities.
The engagement concluded with a guided tour of the ECOWAS Logistics Depot in Lungi, led by Minister Barlay, the ECOWAS Resident Representative Mr. John Azumah, and the British delegation. The visit provided an opportunity for on-site assessment of the Depot’s facilities and further identification of areas where targeted intervention and support would be most impactful.
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