Freetown, 27th January, 2026– Sierra Leonean-Australians marked a historic milestone with the first-ever Australia Day celebration in Sierra Leone, held at The View, FCC Building in Freetown.
Australia Day, observed annually on January 26, is Australia’s official national day. It commemorates the 1788 landing of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove, marking the beginning of British settlement. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, however, the day is also one of reflection, mourning, and survival.
For Sierra Leoneans, the inaugural celebration in Freetown highlighted diaspora connections and Australia’s role in providing sanctuary, education, and opportunities. It also served as a platform to strengthen bilateral ties and celebrate shared values of diversity, resilience, and community.
Delivering her remarks virtually, Australian High Commissioner to Ghana (accredited to Sierra Leone), H.E. Berenice Owen Jones, praised the growing bonds between the two nations. She reflected on Australia’s unique identity as both ancient and modern, shaped by Indigenous heritage and enriched by multicultural diversity.
The High Commissioner underscored Australia’s commitment to democracy, peace, and the international rules-based order, noting recent global challenges. She highlighted the joint leadership of Sierra Leone’s Foreign Minister Timothy Kabba and Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong in spearheading the UN Declaration on the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel, adopted in 2025 by more than 100 countries.
“Australia is the most successful multicultural democracy, home to people from more than 200 countries, all contributing to the fabric of Australian life. This diversity is not merely demographic, it is foundational to our national character and our strength,” Owen Jones said.
She also pointed to expanding people-to-people links through education, training, and the Australia Awards program, which has benefitted Sierra Leonean professionals in health, agriculture, and renewable energy.
Speaking at the celebration, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Timothy Musa Kabba welcomed the Mayor of Freetown, the Honorary Consul of Australia, and members of the Australian community. He reflected on Australia’s journey, honoring its Indigenous heritage and celebrating its diversity.
The Minister recalled his official visit to Australia, describing it as a land of “blue skies, golden beaches, and some of the warmest people I have ever met.” He highlighted the strong bilateral ties between Sierra Leone and Australia, established in 1981, and noted how relations have deepened over the years.
He praised Australia’s steadfast commitment to multilateralism and international law at a time when many nations are turning away from global institutions. He cited a recent collaboration with Australia’s Foreign Minister, Senator Penny Wong, which led to a United Nations resolution protecting humanitarian personnel in conflict zones.
The resolution, adopted by over 130 countries, followed the devastating Gaza incursion of October 2023, which claimed tens of thousands of civilian lives and marked the deadliest conflict for humanitarian workers since World War II.
“This partnership reflects our shared values of resilience, humanity, and respect for international law,” Kabba said, emphasizing that Sierra Leone and Australia remain united in efforts to safeguard civilians and uphold global peace.
At the event, host Foday Umar Saccoh welcomed dignitaries, government officials, and members of the diplomatic community to reflect on Australia’s national day. He acknowledged the complex history of January 26, noting both its significance in the birth of modern Australia and its painful legacy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Saccoh highlighted the deep ties between Sierra Leone and Australia, recalling how many Sierra Leoneans found sanctuary there during difficult times. He praised the diaspora’s achievements across Australian society, from boardrooms and hospitals to universities and sports fields, while emphasizing their continued contributions to Sierra Leone’s development through business, charity, and community projects.
“For Sierra Leoneans, Australia holds a special place in our hearts. Some of us moved there to pursue education or work. For some, Australia warmly opened its arms to us and our families at a time when our home was no longer safe, providing us much needed sanctuary to rebuild our lives. And for that, we are grateful,” he said.
“Tonight is a tribute to that generosity. We are here to say ‘Thank You’ to a nation that gave many of us a second chance at life.”
He described the event not only as a celebration but also as a gesture of gratitude and bridge-building between the two nations. Raising a toast, Saccoh called for the enduring friendship between Sierra Leone and Australia to grow stronger in the years ahead.
Mayor of Freetown, Yvonne Aki Sawyerr, congratulated Australians in Sierra Leone on the country’s first Australia Day celebration, noting that ties with “a nation very far away” continue to grow. She emphasized that the relationship is creating opportunities for Sierra Leoneans to reach their potential, both in Australia and when they return home to invest locally.
“For me, what’s most important is that we see this relationship as one that empowers our own development,” she said, adding that Sierra Leone should aspire to be a country where people choose to stay and thrive, rather than one defined by desperation for visas.
“In my view we shouldn’t be a country of people desperate to get visas out, we should be a country growing enough for people to want to stay here to have the opportunities they see elsewhere,” the Mayor said.
She suggested that Australia’s example shows how bridges can be built to create opportunities and encourage investment back home, while acknowledging that challenges around investment remain and must be addressed.
