Freetown, 2nd October 2026- Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Mohamed Rahman Swaray has engaged members of the Sierra Leonean community in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia, stressing the importance of the diaspora’s contribution to the country’s development.
He was speaking during a “Meet, Greet and Chat” engagement with Sierra Leoneans in the United States, where he said the country’s diaspora remains an important part of Sierra Leone’s development and international presence.
According to the Minister, the skills, experience, investments and continued connections of Sierra Leoneans living abroad represent valuable resources that can contribute to the country’s national development priorities.
He said the engagement provided an opportunity to listen directly to Sierra Leoneans in the diaspora and strengthen relations between the country’s diplomatic missions and the communities they serve.
Swaray also underscored the importance of making Sierra Leone’s foreign service more accessible and responsive to citizens abroad.
“Accessible, responsive representation is central to the Foreign Service we seek to build,” he said.
The Minister expressed appreciation to members of the Sierra Leonean community who participated in the engagement, as well as Berny’s Hope Foundation and the Sierra Leone Embassy in Washington, D.C., for facilitating the gathering.
He said he looked forward to continued dialogue and collaboration with Sierra Leoneans abroad as part of efforts to advance the country’s interests.
The engagement forms part of broader efforts to strengthen ties between Sierra Leone and its diaspora, whose contributions include investment, professional expertise, skills transfer and support to communities back home.
