By: Amara Kargbo
Freetown, August 18, 2026- The incoming Foreign Minister, Mohamed Rahman Swaray, pledged continuity, stronger partnerships, and results-driven diplomacy on Monday as he took charge of Sierra Leone’s foreign ministry, drawing firm backing from senior officials and praise from predecessor Alhaji Timothy Musa Kabba.
The handover ceremony at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation cast Swaray as the next steward of Sierra Leone’s foreign policy at a time of rising regional and international visibility for the country.
In his first remarks after assuming office, Swaray said he was taking up the role with humility and a strong sense of duty, and promised to build on recent diplomatic gains.
His priority, he said, would be to deepen partnerships, strengthen Sierra Leone’s voice in international affairs and ensure diplomacy delivers practical gains through peace, security, investment, trade and development cooperation.
Senior ministry officials signalled early confidence in his leadership.
Director General Alan C. E. Logan said the ministry remained committed to advancing President Julius Maada Bio’s foreign policy agenda through bilateral, regional and multilateral engagement, adding that Swaray was taking office with institutional support and clear momentum.
Logan said the ministry had expanded Sierra Leone’s diplomatic reach in recent years and helped project the country’s interests abroad, including during its tenure on the United Nations Security Council and through regional diplomacy under ECOWAS.
Outgoing minister Kabba used the ceremony to thank President Bio for the confidence placed in him during his three years in office and said he was leaving with pride in the progress recorded by the ministry.
He cited Sierra Leone’s return to the U.N. Security Council after more than five decades, including its leadership during two rotational presidencies, as well as the country’s growing standing in West Africa.
Kabba also pointed to the reopening of Sierra Leone’s embassy in France and the establishment of missions in Algeria, Ireland and Qatar, saying those steps reflected wider efforts to strengthen the country’s diplomatic footprint.
He said Morocco, Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Russia had also strengthened or restored diplomatic representation in Freetown, which he described as a sign of growing confidence in Sierra Leone’s foreign policy direction.
On infrastructure, Kabba said the ministry had made progress on property and facility projects across overseas missions, including in Liberia, Brussels and Germany, while continuing to support African Union efforts for reform of the U.N. Security Council.
Turning to his successor, Kabba described Swaray as a trusted colleague with deep knowledge of the ministry’s work and said he was confident the incoming minister would consolidate recent gains and take Sierra Leone’s diplomacy further.
Deputy Director General of Operations Franklyn Brima Fawundu also pledged staff support, saying ministry personnel stood ready to work with Swaray in advancing national foreign policy goals.
The ceremony ended with a message of continuity, with officials stressing that while leadership changes, Sierra Leone’s national interest remains constant.
