The Embassy and Permanent Mission of Sierra Leone in Geneva honoured an invitation from the Sierra Leone–Swiss Community to participate in activities marking Sierra Leone’s 65th Independence Anniversary in Bern.
The engagement formed part of ongoing efforts to strengthen collaboration and consolidate the cordial relationship between the Mission and the Sierra Leonean diaspora in Switzerland.
Representing His Excellency Dr. Lansana Gberie, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Sierra Leone to Switzerland, the Head of Chancery and Minister Plenipotentiary, Mr. Edward Kawa, engaged members of the diaspora during an Independence Day get-together organised by the Sierra Leone–Swiss Community. The event served as a platform to foster unity and solidarity among Sierra Leoneans residing in Switzerland.
In his remarks, Mr. Kawa underscored the importance of community cohesion and highlighted progress made by the Mission in advancing the interests of Sierra Leonean citizens in Switzerland. He explained that the Embassy’s diaspora engagement initiative is designed not only to keep the community informed about its achievements and challenges, but also to gain direct insight into the needs and concerns of Sierra Leoneans living in the host country.
He further called on members of the diaspora to collectively position Sierra Leone as an attractive destination for global investment, reaffirming the Mission’s commitment to addressing the concerns of its citizens. Emphasising civic responsibility, he urged Sierra Leoneans to conduct themselves with dignity and decorum, cautioning against actions that could foster division or undermine national unity.
Mr. Kawa also encouraged greater unity within the community and proposed that the newly elected executive of the Sierra Leone–Swiss Community formally present itself to the Ambassador in the coming months to enhance structured engagement and coordination.
President of the Sierra Leone–Swiss Community, Mr. Joshua Conteh, expressed appreciation to the Embassy for honouring the invitation. He commended the Mission for its continued efforts in promoting a positive image of Sierra Leone and encouraging citizens to remain united and law-abiding in Switzerland.
Senior Adviser to the Community, Moussa Korouma, emphasised the importance of supporting young Sierra Leoneans who have obtained residency status in Switzerland. He noted that such individuals should be encouraged to take advantage of available opportunities for skills development and human capital growth, as a pathway to self-reliance and effective integration into Swiss society.
Mr. Korouma further acknowledged the strong working relationship between the Sierra Leone–Swiss Community and the Embassy, while calling for broader and more frequent engagement with Sierra Leoneans across different parts of Switzerland.
The Mission reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining its diaspora outreach, with plans to expand engagement activities to Sierra Leonean communities across various cantons in Switzerland in the coming months.
