Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio has arrived in Rome, Italy, to participate in the Aqaba Process Heads of State and Government-Level Summit, a high-level international gathering focused on addressing growing security challenges in West Africa.
The summit, co-hosted by the Government of Italy and His Majesty King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, brings together heads of state, senior government officials, military commanders, intelligence chiefs, and counterterrorism experts. Discussions will center on combating terrorism, organized crime, and maritime insecurity stretching from the Sahel to the Gulf of Guinea.
President Bio is attending in his dual capacity as President of the Republic of Sierra Leone and Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) a role that underscores both Sierra Leone’s and West Africa’s leadership in advancing regional stability and cooperation.
On the margins of the summit, President Bio is expected to hold a bilateral meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, aimed at strengthening diplomatic and economic ties between Sierra Leone and Italy, with a focus on security collaboration, trade, and sustainable development.
Moderated by General Sir Adrian Bradshaw, the one-day event will feature in-depth discussions on evolving security dynamics in the region, including emerging extremist threats, coordination mechanisms, and the importance of robust international partnerships.
The summit comes at a critical time when West Africa faces an alarming rise in extremist violence, cross-border crime, and irregular migration underscoring the urgent need for a unified global response.
Established by King Abdullah II, the Aqaba Process serves as a strategic counterterrorism initiative that fosters dialogue and cooperation among nations to combat global security threats. Previous sessions have focused on the Balkans, East Africa, and the Horn of Africa; this year’s focus on West Africa highlights mounting international concern over the region’s stability.
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