Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane to hold a Bilateral Meeting with Sierra Leone Minister Zainab H Bangura

International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane will hold a bilateral meeting with her counterpart, Sierra Leone Foreign Affairs Minister, Ms Zainab H Bangura on Sunday, 07 March 2010 in Pretoria.

The bilateral meeting takes place within the context of consolidating the African Agenda with the view of scaling bilateral relations to a higher level and direct contact between the two countries. Minister Bangura will also form part of the seminar on women, peace and security with the 2010 African Union being declared by the AU as a Year of Peace and Security in Addis Ababa during the 12th Ordinary Summit of the Heads of State and Government, and the African Women’s Decade 2010-2020.

Bilateral Relations

Diplomatic relations between South Africa and Sierra Leone were established in August 1998. The South African Embassy in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, is accredited to Sierra Leone on a non-residential basis. The Sierra Leonean Ambassador in Addis Ababa is accredited to South Africa on a non-residential basis.

The Government of Sierra Leone has indicated that it is finalizing plans to open a High Commission in South Africa in 2010. The two countries have embarked on cooperation projects in the past such the Freetown Electrification Project which sought to assist with the supply of regular electricity to Freetown. The two countries also consult on multilateral issues in fora such as the African Union, and United Nations. The Government and People of Sierra Leone view South Africa as a partner in the quest for development. In this respect, the country expects South Africa to play a partnership role by assisting with its development efforts and providing backing in multilateral fora on issues facing
Least Developed Countries

Unlike with most countries on the continent South Africa and Sierra Leone do not have a General Cooperation Agreement. The Government of South Africa has identified a need for this legal instrument which will set out the technical areas of cooperation between the two countries. Hitherto, South Africa has built in the establishment of Joint Commission of Cooperation into all General Cooperation Agreements.

In 2009, the India-Brazil-South Africa Fund for Poverty and Hunger Alleviation indicated its interest to fund developmental projects in Sierra Leone. South Africa was requested to interact with the Government of Sierra Leone to identify fundable and scalable projects to assist the country in its developmental efforts. In terms of rules governing the IBSA Fund, each identified country can receive funding of up to US$ 1 million for projects that make a meaningful impact on the lives of ordinary citizens and which have the potential to self-sustain. The projects are implemented by the United Nations Development Programme on behalf of IBSA.

Media Programme

Sunday, 07 March 2010

For information please contact Nomfanelo Kota on 082 459 3787
Issued by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation

OR Tambo Building
460 Rietondale Road
Rietondale
Pretoria

06 March 2010