By Emma Black
In a significant diplomatic milestone, His Excellency Mohamed Hassan Kaisamba, Sierra Leone’s High Commissioner resident in Accra, Ghana, and non-resident Ambassador to Burkina Faso, officially presented his letters of credence to captain Ibrahim Traoré, President of the Republic of Burkina Faso.
June 26, 2025, the solemn ceremony took place at the Presidential Palace in Koulouba, Ouagadougou, where Ambassador Kaisamba submitted both his Letter of Recall of his predecessor and his Letter of Credence appointing him as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Sierra Leone.
In delivering his credentials, Ambassador Kaisamba conveyed warm greetings from President Julius Maada Bio, the Government, and the People of Sierra Leone to President Traoré and the Burkinabé people, he described the occasion as a celebration of longstanding African solidarity and a reaffirmation of the enduring bonds between the two nations.
Our histories are intertwined with resilience, sacrifice, and the determination to chart a path toward dignity, transformation, and African self-determination, Ambassador Kaisamba said.
He underscored that Sierra Leone and Burkina Faso have shared a deep-rooted friendship and are working continuously to expand bilateral cooperation across sectors such as trade, education, agriculture, energy, and regional peacebuilding.
Now formally accredited, Ambassador Kaisamba pledged his commitment to strengthening Sierra Leone’s presence in Burkina Faso, he affirmed his dedication to engaging with relevant ministries, departments, and agencies in Ouagadougou to ensure that mutual diplomatic efforts yield tangible benefits for both nations.
Responding to the ambassador’s remarks, President Captain Ibrahim Traoré expressed appreciation for the goodwill from President Bio and extended a warm welcome to Ambassador Kaisamba.
He congratulated President Julius Maada Bio on his recent election as Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), describing the appointment as timely and promising for the region.
We believe in President Bio’s leadership,” President Traoré said, with him at the helm of ECOWAS, we are confident that some of the key challenges facing our subregion will receive strong and solution-oriented attention.
President Traoré described Sierra Leone and Burkina Faso’s diplomatic relationship as one grounded in mutual respect and African solidarity, he pledged that his government would provide all necessary support to ensure Ambassador Kaisamba’s mission in Burkina Faso is successful.
The Burkinabé leader also emphasized the need for stronger regional cooperation to address Africa’s most pressing issues including food security, energy, peace, and development.
Africa is destined for greatness, he noted, we must work together to harness our collective strength to overcome challenges.
Ambassador Kaisamba was one of eight envoys who presented their letters of credence that day, with representatives from India, Türkiye, Cuba, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Luxembourg, Bangladesh, and Sierra Leone all participating in the diplomatic ceremony, while some ambassadors are resident in Ouagadougou, others like Mr. Kaisamba hold non-resident status.
Accompanying the Ambassador at the presentation were: Mr. Aiah Edwin Mbawa, Minister Counsellor and Head of Chancery Ms. Princetta Williams, Information Attaché Mr. Abraham Wetiouga KOUTIANGBA, Sierra Leone’s Honorary Consul in Burkina Faso
This event marks a renewed chapter in Sierra Leone’s foreign policy, underscoring the Bio administration’s commitment to regional diplomacy, trade expansion, and the promotion of Pan-African unity.
As Ambassador Kaisamba assumes his role in Burkina Faso, the focus now turns to strengthening bilateral programs and exploring new avenues for cooperation in the interest of both nations and their peoples.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Wednesday, 2nd July, 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
