Freetown: The Foreign Affairs Minister, Alhaji Timothy Musa Kabba, highlighted Sierra Leone’s diplomatic, security, and institutional gains, calling the ECOWAS Mid-Year Summit 2026 a catalyst driving stronger regional influence, renewed peace momentum, and broader sub-regional opportunities.
According to Sierra Leone News Agency, speaking during an interview on Truth Media, and the Morocco Maghreb Arab Press Agency (MAP), Minister Kabba described the summit as one of Sierra Leone’s most significant diplomatic successes in recent years. He noted that Freetown hosted one of the region’s best-attended ECOWAS gatherings, bringing together nine Heads of State, two Vice Presidents, and several senior regional officials.
He said the event reflected positively on the Government of Sierra Leone, the leadership of President Julius Maada Bio, and the people of Sierra Leone. In his view, the successful hosting demonstrated national capacity, strengthened the country’s standing in the sub-region, and reinforced its image as a credible and responsible member of the international community.
On the summit’s substantive outcomes, Kabba stressed that the true significance of such engagements lies in the decisions reached by leaders. Among the most notable, he said, was the renewed directive to launch the ECOWAS single currency, the ECO, by 2027.
He explained that Heads of State and Government had instructed central bank governors and finance ministers to intensify work on monetary and financial integration, supported by an implementation mechanism designed to keep progress on course. If achieved, he noted, the launch of the ECO would stand as one of the defining legacies of the Freetown summit.
On regional peace and security, the minister said the summit also advanced efforts to address the long-standing Yenga and Lofa border concerns. He pointed out that the call for the withdrawal of Guinean troops followed deliberations by the Mediation and Security Council, the Executive Council, and ultimately the Authority of Heads of State and Government.
Kabba reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s commitment to resolving the matter through diplomacy, dialogue, and sustained regional engagement. While acknowledging public concern over delays, he maintained that lasting peace requires patience, consistency, and multilateral support rather than confrontation.
He further disclosed that ECOWAS had engaged the African Union, the United Nations, and other multilateral partners to support mediation efforts and help secure a durable settlement. Sierra Leone’s position, he emphasized, remains peaceful, deliberate, and firmly rooted in regional stability.
Addressing xenophobic attacks in South Africa, Kabba described such actions as regrettable and contrary to the spirit of African solidarity. He said ECOWAS leaders used the summit to strengthen regional condemnation of the attacks and draw wider continental and international attention to the issue.
Although no officially reported cases involving Sierra Leoneans had reached the government through formal channels, he said authorities continue to monitor the situation through diplomatic representatives and remain attentive to the welfare of citizens abroad.
The minister also highlighted institutional gains secured through Sierra Leone’s active engagement in ECOWAS affairs. Chief among them, he said, was the country’s acquisition of the strategic office of Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, one of the bloc’s most influential positions.
According to Kabba, the appointment reflects growing confidence in Sierra Leone and underscores President Bio’s commitment to peacebuilding, effective regional representation, and gender inclusion. He added that Sierra Leone also secured additional opportunities for its nationals in ECOWAS leadership and administrative roles, thereby expanding the country’s presence in regional governance.
On Sierra Leone’s broader role within ECOWAS, Kabba said President Bio’s leadership helped restore visibility, energy, and confidence in the bloc at a critical moment. He added that Sierra Leone’s stewardship encouraged stronger engagement among member states and renewed focus on democracy, security cooperation, and institutional credibility.
He concluded that, despite some regional challenges, he added that Sierra Leone has already made meaningful progress through diplomacy, principled leadership, and constructive engagement. He expressed confidence that the summit’s decisions would continue to deliver long-term benefits for Sierra Leone and the wider West African region.