Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. The Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs of Sierra Leone, Dr. Isata Mahoi, visited Reykjavík on 12th November 2025, where she met with the Speaker of the Iceland Parliament, Ms. Þórunn Sveinbjarnardóttir.
Speaker Sveinbjarnardóttir warmly welcomed Dr. Mahoi to her office, acknowledging the cordial bilateral relations between Iceland and Sierra Leone and commending the West African nation’s progress in gender and development.
During the meeting, Dr. Mahoi highlighted Sierra Leone’s post-conflict transformation and the government’s commitment to sound policies and inclusive governance, as outlined in the Medium-Term National Development Plan (2024–2030).
She emphasized the Big Five Game Changers, with a focus on Feed Salone and Human Capital Development, as pillars of the country’s development agenda.
Dr. Mahoi noted that Sierra Leone looks up to Iceland as an inspiring example of women’s advancement, where women have broken barriers in leadership. She highlighted key legislative achievements, including the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act (2022), the Public Elections Act (2022), and the Political Parties Regulation Commission Act (2022), which collectively ensure a minimum of 30% women’s representation in governance.
The Minister expressed appreciation to the Government of Iceland for its continued support through UNFPA and UN Women, particularly in promoting gender equality, strengthening capacity in the fisheries sector, and supporting education initiatives that improve girls’ enrollment and retention in schools.
In response, Speaker Sveinbjarnardóttir reaffirmed Iceland’s commitment to maintaining its official development assistance (ODA) contributions, stating,
“We are a small country but very rich.”
She reflected on Iceland’s 50-year journey in advocating for gender equality, emphasizing the crucial role of education in achieving women’s advancement.
The Speaker commended Sierra Leone’s progress and expressed hope for continued collaboration in advancing women’s empowerment and education.
For More News And Analysis About Sierra-Leone Follow Africa-Press
