President Bio Welcomes New Envoys As Sierra Leone Deepens Global Diplomatic Partnerships
By Abdul RahmanSuagibuBangura
President Julius Maada Bio has reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations, regional cooperation and international partnerships after receiving the Letters of Credence of newly accredited envoys from Nigeria, Jamaica and Angola during a formal ceremony at State House.
The ceremony, held on Thursday, 9th July 2026, also witnessed the presentation of the Letters of Recall of the diplomats’ predecessors, formally accrediting the new representatives to Sierra Leone.
The newly accredited diplomats are Her Excellency Ayo Luther Ogbomode, High Commissioner of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Sierra Leone; His Excellency Lincoln George Downer, High Commissioner of Jamaica to Sierra Leone, resident in Abuja, Nigeria; and His Excellency Dr. EustaquioJanuarioQuibato, Ambassador of the Republic of Angola to Sierra Leone, resident in Conakry, Guinea.
Following the presentation of their credentials, the three envoys conveyed warm greetings and best wishes from their respective Heads of State and Government while expressing appreciation for the hospitality extended by the Government and people of Sierra Leone. They also reaffirmed their commitment to expanding cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
Speaking on behalf of Nigeria, High Commissioner Ayo Luther Ogbomode pledged to deepen the longstanding relationship between Nigeria and Sierra Leone, with particular emphasis on regional security, democratic governance, economic cooperation and regional integration. She conveyed the warm greetings of Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and reaffirmed her determination to further strengthen bilateral ties during her tenure.
Jamaica’s High Commissioner, Lincoln George Downer, highlighted the deep historical and cultural bonds between the two nations, noting that his ancestral roots trace back to Sierra Leone’s Maroon heritage. Describing Sierra Leone as his “second home,” he expressed his commitment to expanding collaboration in tourism, culture and investment.
Angola’s Ambassador, Dr. EustaquioJanuarioQuibato, identified agriculture, mining and technical cooperation as priority sectors for enhanced collaboration, while thanking President Bio for accepting his credentials.
In his remarks,
President Bio warmly welcomed the three diplomats on behalf of the Government and people of Sierra Leone, assuring them of his administration’s full support throughout their diplomatic assignments.
Addressing Nigeria’s High Commissioner, the President described Nigeria as one of Sierra Leone’s closest and most dependable partners, paying tribute to its pivotal role in restoring peace during Sierra Leone’s civil war through the ECOWAS Monitoring Group (ECOMOG). He expressed gratitude for Nigeria’s continued support and requested that his warm regards be conveyed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. President Bio also called for stronger collaboration in security, democracy, good governance, regional integration, trade and economic development.
Welcoming Jamaica’s High Commissioner, President Bio underscored the unique historical and cultural ties shared by both countries and encouraged greater cooperation in people-to-people exchanges, tourism, culture and investment.
Receiving Angola’s Ambassador, the President advocated stronger partnerships in agriculture, mining, technical cooperation and skills development, describing those sectors as central to Sierra Leone’s national development agenda.
President Bio assured all three diplomats of his Government’s unwavering support, encouraging them to feel at home in Sierra Leone and to work closely with his administration in advancing mutually beneficial partnerships.
Meanwhile, Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening diplomatic relations with Sierra Leone following the presentation of High Commissioner Ayo Luther Ogbomode’s Letters of Credence.
According to a statement issued by Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the High Commissioner conveyed the goodwill of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and congratulated President Julius Maada Bio on assuming the Chairmanship of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The Ministry reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening the longstanding bonds of friendship and cooperation between the two countries, highlighting their shared efforts in regional peacekeeping, democratic governance, security, trade and economic development. It also reiterated Nigeria’s dedication to promoting regional stability, economic diplomacy and stronger political engagement across Africa.
The accreditation of the three envoys marks another significant step in Sierra Leone’s drive to deepen diplomatic engagement, broaden strategic international partnerships and promote peace, economic growth and sustainable development through strengthened bilateral and regional cooperation.​
