Freetown: The Deputy Opposition Leader Hon. Aaron Aruna Koroma presented the First Session Report from the Africa-EU Parliamentary Assembly, which was convened from the 7th to the 14th of May 2026 in Ezulwini, Kingdom of Eswatini, before the Sierra Leone Parliament on Thursday, 9th July 2026. Hon. Koroma delivered the report on behalf of the Leader of Government Business and Head of Delegation, Hon. Mathew Sahr Nyuma. The Assembly operated under the Samoa Agreement, which is the successor to the Cotonou Agreement, establishing a renewed parliamentary cooperation framework between the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) and the European Union.
According to Sierra Leone News Agency, the Assembly united parliamentarians from 79 OACPS member states and 27 EU member states, representing over 1.5 billion people, to strengthen inter-continental dialogue, cooperation, and parliamentary oversight. Hon. Koroma urged the government towards the speedy ratification of the Samoa Agreement. He highlighted key addresses, including those from OACPS Secretary-General Moussa S. Batraki, who emphasized the vital role of national parliaments in translating international commitments into tangible benefits for citizens. The discussions covered topics such as peace and security, youth empowerment, regional cooperation, technical and vocational education training (TVET), value addition in Africa’s extractive sector, stronger parliamentary oversight, and equitable economic partnerships.
The report captured the EU Ambassador’s call for visionary inclusive leadership, emphasizing political stability, economic growth, youth empowerment, security, and responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and technology to drive innovation while safeguarding future generations.
Hon. Koroma concluded that the Assembly’s strongest message endorsed the continued embrace and replication of parliamentary diplomacy by regional and national parliaments. He noted that Members of Parliament, as direct representatives of the people, have a unique democratic mandate to build bridges, resolve differences, strengthen regional integration, and influence international policy for the benefit of citizens. He asserted that parliamentary diplomacy no longer merely complements traditional diplomacy but serves as an indispensable tool for peacebuilding, accountability, development cooperation, and democratic governance.
He commended the Leader of Government Business for exemplary leadership and distinguished national representation. Hon. Koroma further called for government implementation of the Assembly’s initiatives and commitments for national benefit.
The report concluded with recommendations for accelerating the implementation of the Samoa Agreement and strengthening Africa-EU parliamentary cooperation.