Ambassador Roey Gilad has formally presented his Letters of Credence to the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, H.E Julius Maada Wonie Bio officially assuming his role as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the State of Israel.
Ambassador Roey Gilad has formally presented his Letters of Credence to the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, H.E Julius Maada Wonie Bio officially assuming his role as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the State of Israel.
Addressing the President and dignitaries at the State House in Freetown, Ambassador Gilad highlighted the friendship, cooperation and shared purpose between Israel and Sierra Leone.
He praised Sierra Leone as a nation rich in culture, resilience, and promise, highlighting the deep-rooted ties between the two countries.
Ambassador Gilad recalled key milestones in bilateral relations, including the historic 2017 visit of former President Ernest Bai Koroma to Israel, which he described as a turning point in mutual diplomatic engagement.
Acknowledging Sierra Leone’s ongoing development efforts, Ambassador Gilad commended the government’s vision for transformation through the “Feed Salone” initiative and bold investments in health, education, and infrastructure.
“These national priorities align strongly with Israel’s own journey of development and innovation,” he said. “We see great potential for further cooperation in smart agriculture, renewable energy, healthcare innovation, education, and climate resilience.”
He also emphasized Israel’s contributions through MASHAV, Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation, which has helped train over 650 Sierra Leonean professionals in areas such as gender equality, community development, and green innovation.
“Our nations are united by core values: democracy, resilience, and the pursuit of peace, prosperity, and dignity for our peoples,” Ambassador Gilad affirmed.
Looking to the future, he pledged to explore new avenues of collaboration and support Sierra Leone’s Medium-Term National Development Plan (2024–2030), while also working to strengthen people-to-people ties, business exchanges, and knowledge sharing.
The ambassador concluded by expressing deep gratitude for the warm reception and reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to enhancing the longstanding friendship between Israel and Sierra Leone.
President Julius Maada Bio said he is committed to strengthening the bilateral ties for the mutual benefit of Israel and Sierra Leone