Sierra Leoneportal |
Sierra Leone maintains formal relations with many Western nations. [1] It also maintains diplomatic relations with the former Soviet Bloc countries as well as with the People's Republic of China.
The government maintains 16 embassies and high commissions around the world. [2]
Former President Stevens' government had sought closer relations with West African countries under the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). [3] The present government is continuing this effort.
Sierra Leone is a member of the United Nations and its specialized agencies, the Commonwealth, the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Development Bank (AFDB), the Mano River Union (MRU), the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).
Sierra Leone is also a member of the International Criminal Court with a Bilateral Immunity Agreement of protection for the US-military (as covered under Article 98).
Sierra Leone is a member state of the Commonwealth of Nations.
List of countries which Sierra Leone maintains diplomatic relations with:
# | Country | Date |
---|---|---|
1 | Canada | 27 April 1961 [4] |
2 | Egypt | 27 April 1961 [5] |
3 | France | 27 April 1961 [6] |
4 | Ghana | 27 April 1961 [7] |
5 | Israel | 27 April 1961 [8] |
6 | Japan | 27 April 1961 [9] |
7 | Lebanon | 27 April 1961 [10] |
8 | Nigeria | 27 April 1961 [11] |
9 | United Kingdom | 27 April 1961 [12] |
10 | United States | 27 April 1961 [13] |
11 | India | 28 April 1961 [14] |
12 | Belgium | 12 July 1961 [15] |
13 | Germany | 5 September 1961 [16] |
14 | Guinea | 20 October 1961 [17] |
15 | Russia | 18 January 1962 [18] |
16 | Netherlands | 22 February 1962 [19] |
17 | Liberia | 8 June 1962 [20] |
18 | South Korea | 25 June 1962 [21] |
19 | Sudan | 19 August 1962 [22] |
20 | Bulgaria | 28 September 1962 [23] |
21 | Poland | 10 November 1962 [24] |
22 | Italy | 1962 [25] |
23 | Ivory Coast | 1962 [26] |
24 | Mali | 1962 [27] |
25 | Senegal | 1962 [28] |
26 | Sweden | 1962 [29] |
27 | Switzerland | 1962 [30] |
28 | Czech Republic | 3 January 1963 [31] |
29 | Serbia | 25 September 1963 [32] |
30 | Pakistan | 1963 [33] |
31 | Romania | 15 January 1964 [34] |
32 | Spain | 6 March 1964 [35] |
33 | Syria | 29 November 1964 |
34 | Madagascar | 5 November 1966 [36] |
35 | Gambia | 10 December 1966 [37] |
36 | Jamaica | 15 November 1967 [38] |
37 | Ethiopia | 26 March 1968 [39] |
38 | Lesotho | 22 October 1968 [40] |
39 | Hungary | 10 November 1969 [41] |
40 | Norway | 20 July 1970 [42] |
41 | Luxembourg | 13 October 1970 [43] |
42 | Turkey | 15 February 1971 [44] |
43 | Zambia | 19 February 1971 [45] |
44 | China | 29 July 1971 [46] |
45 | North Korea | 14 October 1971 [47] |
46 | Mauritania | 21 October 1971 [48] |
47 | Tanzania | 3 November 1971 [49] |
48 | Algeria | 7 April 1972 [50] |
49 | Cuba | 24 April 1972 [51] |
50 | Saudi Arabia | 1 July 1972 [52] |
51 | Denmark | 22 January 1973 [53] |
52 | Uganda | 10 September 1973 [54] |
53 | Brazil | 9 August 1974 [55] |
54 | Argentina | 6 September 1974 [56] |
55 | Guyana | 25 October 1974 [57] |
56 | Democratic Republic of the Congo | 20 January 1975 [58] |
57 | Guinea-Bissau | 28 January 1975 [59] |
58 | Portugal | 18 February 1975 [60] |
59 | Austria | 1 March 1975 [61] |
60 | Trinidad and Tobago | 17 July 1975 [62] |
61 | Libya | 18 November 1975 [63] |
62 | Bangladesh | 22 January 1976 [64] |
63 | Mozambique | 12 March 1976 [65] |
64 | Mexico | 30 June 1976 [66] |
65 | Albania | 23 August 1976 [67] |
66 | Cameroon | 30 September 1976 [68] |
67 | Cape Verde | 8 January 1978 [69] |
68 | Vietnam | 24 June 1978 [70] |
69 | Kenya | 16 January 1979 [71] |
70 | Greece | 15 May 1979 [72] |
71 | Kuwait | 1980 [73] |
72 | Qatar | 1980 [74] |
73 | Australia | 2 December 1981 [75] |
74 | United Arab Emirates | 5 October 1982 [76] |
75 | Oman | 10 December 1982 [77] |
76 | Thailand | 24 December 1982 [78] |
77 | Iran | 12 March 1983 [79] |
78 | Equatorial Guinea | March 1983 [80] |
79 | Maldives | 14 June 1988 [81] |
80 | Colombia | 16 November 1988 [82] |
81 | Peru | 15 May 1989 [83] |
82 | Venezuela | 29 October 1990 [84] |
83 | Malaysia | 28 January 1991 [85] |
84 | Philippines | 3 April 1991 [86] |
85 | Indonesia | 15 November 1994 [87] |
86 | Azerbaijan | 13 March 1995 [88] |
87 | Brunei | 10 July 1995 [89] |
88 | Slovakia | 21 May 1996 [90] |
— | Holy See | 30 July 1996 [91] |
89 | Georgia | 7 April 1997 [92] |
90 | North Macedonia | 17 July 1998 [93] |
91 | South Africa | 21 August 1998 [94] |
92 | Ukraine | 20 May 1999 [95] |
93 | Ireland | 19 January 2000 [96] |
94 | Cyprus | 22 November 2000 [97] |
95 | Malta | 16 October 2001 [98] |
96 | Namibia | 18 September 2002 [99] |
97 | Croatia | 23 July 2003 [100] |
98 | Belarus | 27 September 2003 [101] |
99 | Armenia | 19 March 2004 [102] |
100 | Angola | 1 November 2004 [103] |
101 | Bahamas | 7 November 2006 [104] |
102 | Iceland | 13 November 2006 [105] |
103 | Finland | 17 June 2008 [106] |
104 | New Zealand | 5 March 2009 [107] |
105 | Uruguay | 22 September 2010 [108] |
106 | Cambodia | 7 October 2010 [109] |
107 | Estonia | 10 May 2011 [110] |
108 | Slovenia | 10 May 2011 [111] |
109 | Zimbabwe | 19 April 2012 [112] |
110 | Jordan | 3 December 2012 [113] |
111 | Singapore | 9 April 2013 [114] |
112 | Mongolia | 27 September 2013 [115] |
113 | Sri Lanka | 16 November 2013 [116] |
114 | Rwanda | 29 November 2013 [117] |
115 | Lithuania | 15 April 2014 [118] |
116 | Montenegro | 8 October 2014 [119] |
117 | Kazakhstan | 20 November 2014 [120] |
118 | Latvia | 12 December 2014 [121] |
119 | Fiji | 6 February 2015 [122] |
120 | Ecuador | 12 February 2015 [123] |
121 | Botswana | 16 February 2015 [124] |
122 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 24 November 2015 [125] |
— | Kosovo (suspended) | 24 November 2015 [126] |
123 | Burundi | 2 March 2016 [127] |
124 | Malawi | 8 March 2016 [128] |
125 | Kyrgyzstan | 1 November 2016 [129] |
— | State of Palestine | 6 December 2017 [130] |
126 | Turkmenistan | 15 June 2020 [131] |
127 | Nicaragua | 25 September 2020 [132] |
128 | Tajikistan | 2 October 2020 [133] |
129 | Grenada | 24 February 2021 [134] |
130 | Nepal | 29 June 2021 [135] |
131 | Belize | 23 September 2021 [136] |
132 | Bahrain | 8 June 2022 [137] |
133 | Moldova | 18 August 2022 [138] |
134 | Dominican Republic | 19 September 2022 [139] |
135 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 12 April 2023 [140] |
136 | Uzbekistan | 28 April 2023 [141] |
137 | El Salvador | 18 September 2023 [142] |
138 | Saint Lucia | 20 September 2023 [143] |
139 | Benin | Unknown |
140 | Burkina Faso | Unknown |
141 | Chad | Unknown |
142 | Morocco | Unknown |
143 | Niger | Unknown |
— | Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic | Unknown [144] |
144 | Togo | Unknown |
145 | Tunisia | Unknown |
Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
---|---|---|
Algeria | 7 April 1972 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 7 April 1972 when Mr Zitouni Messaudi, the first Algerian Ambassador, presented his credentials to President Stevens [50] |
Angola | 1 November 2004 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 1 November 2004 when Ambassador of Sierra Leone, Alhaji Mohammed Bayoh, presented his credentials to Angola's President Jose Eduardo dos Santos. [103] |
Bangladesh | 22 January 1976 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 22 January 1976 when has been accredited High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Sierra Leone Mr. M. Anwarul Haq. [64] |
Belgium | 12 July 1961 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 12 July 1961 when M. G. Walravens was appointed as first Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of Belgium to Sierra Leone ( with residence in Abidjan) [15] |
Burundi | 2 March 2016 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 2 March 2016 when Ambassador of Sierra Leone (resident in Addis Ababa) Mr. Osman Keh Kamara presented his credentials to President of Burundi Pierre Nkurunziza. [127] |
Canada | 27 April 1961 | See Canada–Sierra Leone relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 27 April 1961 |
China | 29 July 1971 | See China–Sierra Leone relations China and Sierra Leone established diplomatic relations on July 29, 1971. [46] |
Denmark | 22 January 1973 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 22 January 1973 when has been accredited Ambassador of Sierra Leone to Denmark (resident in London) Mr. Jacob Arthur Christian Davies. [53] |
Guinea | 20 October 1961 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 20 October 1961 when Mr. Abdoul Karim , Ambassador of Sierra Leone to Guinea presented his credentials to President Sekou Toure. [17] |
Guinea-Bissau | 28 January 1975 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 28 January 1975 when has been accredited Ambassador of Guinea-Bissau to Sierra Leone Mr. Alexander Nunes Correia. [59] |
India | 28 April 1961 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 28 April 1961 [14] |
Indonesia | 15 November 1994 | |
Israel | 27 April 1961 | Both countries established diplomatic relations with the independence of Sierra Leone on 27 April 1961, the Israel consulate in Freetown became an embassy. [8] Sierra Leone broken diplomatic relations with Israel on 27 October 1973. [148] Diplomatic relations were re-established on 27 May 1992 [149] |
Kenya | 16 January 1979 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 16 January 1979 [150] |
Lebanon | 27 April 1961 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 27 April 1961 when Sierra Leone attained independence the Lebanese Ambassador to Liberia was also appointed Ambassador to Sierra Leone. The consulate was changed into an Embassy and Mr. Hazou became Charge d'Affaires. [10] |
Lesotho | 22 October 1968 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 22 October 1968 when first High Commissioner of Lesotho to Sierra Leone Mr. C. D. Molapo has presented his credentials to Governor General Mr. Justice Banja Tejan-Sie [40] |
Liberia | 8 June 1962 | See Liberia–Sierra Leone relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 8 June 1962 when has been appointed first ambassador of Liberia to Sierra Leone Mr. Henry B. Fahnbulleh. [20]
|
Madagascar | 5 November 1966 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 5 November 1966 when Dr. Rakoto-Ratsimamanga, the first Malagasy Ambassador to Sierra Leone with residence in Paris, presented his credentials. [36] |
Mauritania | 21 October 1971 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 21 October 1971 when first Ambassador of Mauritania to Sierra Leone, Mr. Dey Ould Brahim, has presented his credentials to President Stevens [48] |
Mexico | 30 June 1976 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 30 June 1976 [66] |
Namibia | 18 September 2002 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 18 September 2002 when has been accredited High Commissioner of Sierra Leone to Namibia (resident in Addis Ababa) Mr. Melvin Humpah Chalobah. [99] |
Nigeria | 27 April 1961 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 27 April 1961 when was appointed first Nigerian High Commissioner to Sierra Leone Mr A.B. Oyediran [11] |
Spain | 6 March 1964 | See Sierra Leone–Spain relations |
Tanzania | 3 November 1971 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 3 November 1971 when Tanzania's High Commissioner to Sierra Leone , Mr. Frederick Rutakyanirwa , presented his credentials to President Stevens. [49] |
Trinidad and Tobago | 17 July 1975 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 17 July 1975 when accredited first High Commissioner of Trinidad and Tobago to Sierra Leone (resident in Lagos) Mr. J.S.Donaldson [62] |
Turkey | 15 February 1971 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 15 February 1971 [44] |
Uganda | 10 September 1973 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 10 September 1973 when Brigadier Shaban Opolot, Uganda's first ambassador to Sierra Leone, has presented his credentials to President Stevens. [54] |
United Kingdom | 27 April 1961 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 27 April 1961 when accredited first High Commissioner of United Kingdom to Sierra Leone Mr. John Baines Johnston [12] |
United States | 27 April 1961 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 27 April 1961 [13] See Sierra Leone–United States relations U.S. relations with Sierra Leone began with missionary activities in the 19th century. In 1959, the U.S. opened a consulate in Freetown and elevated it to embassy status when Sierra Leone became independent in 1961. U.S.-Sierra Leone relations today are cordial, with ethnic ties between groups in the two countries receiving increasing historical interest. Many thousands of Sierra Leoneans reside in the United States. In fiscal year 2006, total U.S. bilateral aid to Sierra Leone in all categories were $29.538 million. U.S. assistance focused on the consolidation of peace, democracy and human rights, health education, particularly combating HIV/AIDS, and human resources development. Currently, the Principal U.S. Official in Sierra Leone is Chargé d'Affaires Glenn Fedzer [155] Sierra Leone's Ambassador to the U.S. is H. E. Bockari Kortu Stevens and the Sierra Leone embassy is located in Washington. [156] This article incorporates public domain material from U.S. Bilateral Relations Fact Sheets. United States Department of State. |
Zambia | 19 February 1971 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 19 February 1971 when first High Commissioner of Zambia Mr. Siteke G. Mwale presented his credentials to the Governor General of Sierra Leone Sir Banja Tejan-Sie [45] |
Large UN peacekeeping presence ended civil war, however rebel gang fighting, ethnic rivalries, illegal diamond trading, corruption, and refugees spill over into neighboring states that are beset with their own civil disorders, refugees, and violence.
Botswana has put a premium on economic and political integration in southern Africa. It has sought to make the Southern African Development Community (SADC) a working vehicle for economic development, and it has promoted efforts to make the region self-policing in terms of preventive diplomacy, conflict resolution, and good governance.
The foreign relations of Chad are significantly influenced by the desire for oil revenue and investment in Chadian oil industry and support for former Chadian President Idriss Déby. Chad is officially non-aligned but has close relations with France, the former colonial power. Relations with neighbouring Libya, and Sudan vary periodically. Lately, the Idris Déby regime waged an intermittent proxy war with Sudan. Aside from those two countries, Chad generally enjoys good relations with its neighbouring states.
Cameroon's noncontentious, low-profile approach to foreign relations puts it squarely in the middle of other African and developing country states on major issues. It supports the principles of non-interference in the affairs of third world countries and increased assistance to underdeveloped countries. Cameroon is an active participant in the United Nations, where its voting record demonstrates its commitment to causes that include international peacekeeping, the rule of law, environmental protection, and Third World economic development. In the UN and other human rights fora, Cameroon's non-confrontational approach has generally led it to avoid criticizing other countries.
The government's official policy is one of nonalignment. In its search for assistance to meet the goal of national reconstruction, the government of Equatorial Guinea has established diplomatic relations with numerous European and Third World countries. Having achieved independence under UN sponsorship, Equatorial Guinea feels a special kinship with that organization. It became the 126th UN member on November 12, 1968. Equatorial Guinea served as a non-permanent member on the United Nations Security Council from 2017 to 2019.
The foreign relations of Ireland are substantially influenced by its membership of the European Union, although bilateral relations with the United States and United Kingdom are also important to the state. It is one of the group of smaller nations in the EU and has traditionally followed a non-aligned foreign policy. Ireland has historically tended towards independence in foreign military policy, thus it is not a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and has a longstanding policy of military neutrality. According to the Irish Defence Forces, the neutrality policy has helped them to be successful in their contributions to United Nations peace-keeping missions since 1960 and subsequently in Cyprus, Lebanon and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Liberian foreign relations were traditionally stable and cordial throughout much of the 19th and 20th centuries. During the 1990s, Charles Taylor's presidency and the First and Second Liberian Civil Wars underscored Liberian relations with the Western world, the People's Republic of China, and its neighboring countries in Western Africa.
Malawi's former President Bakili Muluzi continued the pro-Western foreign policy established by his predecessor, Hastings Banda. It maintains excellent diplomatic relations with principal Western countries. Malawi's close relations with South Africa throughout the apartheid era strained its relations with other African nations. Following the collapse of apartheid in 1994, Malawi developed, and currently maintains, strong diplomatic relations with all African countries.
Niger pursues a moderate foreign policy and maintains friendly relations with both East and West. It is a member state of the United Nations. Niger maintains a special relationship with France and enjoys close relations with its West African neighbours.
Eswatini is a member of the United Nations, the Commonwealth of Nations, the African Union, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, and the Southern African Development Community. Currently, the Kingdom of Eswatini maintains 11 embassies and High Commissions along with 15 consulates and other representations around the world, while there are five embassies and High Commissions in Eswatini as well as 14 consulates and other representations.
Tanzania's first president, Julius Nyerere also was one of the founding members of the Non-Aligned Movement, and, during the Cold War era, Tanzania played an important role in regional and international organisations, such as the Non-Aligned Movement, the front-line states, the G-77, and the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). One of Africa's best-known elder statesmen, Nyerere was personally active in many of these organisations, and served chairman of the OAU (1984–85) and chairman of six front-line states concerned with eliminating apartheid in Southern Africa. Nyerere was also involved with peace negotiations in Burundi until his death. Nyerere's death, on 14 October 1999, is still commemorated annually.
Modern Trinidad and Tobago maintains close relations with its Caribbean neighbours and major North American and European trading partners. As the most industrialized and second-largest country in the English-speaking Caribbean, Trinidad and Tobago has taken a leading role in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and strongly supports CARICOM economic integration efforts. It also is active in the Summit of the Americas process and supports the establishment of the Free Trade Area of the Americas, lobbying other nations for seating the Secretariat in Port of Spain.
After independence in 1964 the foreign relations of Zambia were mostly focused on supporting liberation movements in other countries in Southern Africa, such as the African National Congress and SWAPO. During the Cold War Zambia was a member of the Non-Aligned Movement.
Uganda has formal diplomatic relations with many countries, some accredited. Since the colonial era and after independence Uganda has grown to be one of the most important African countries. Uganda has diplomatic relations with many countries throughout Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania. Uganda is a member of the United Nations and the Commonwealth of Nations since 1962.
Foreign relations of Portugal are linked with its historical role as a major player in the Age of Discovery and the holder of the now defunct Portuguese Empire. Portugal is a European Union member country and a founding member of NATO. It is a committed proponent of European integration and transatlantic relations. João Gomes Cravinho is the current Minister of Foreign Affairs of Portugal.
The foreign relations of Bangladesh are Bangladesh's relationships with foreign countries. The Government of Bangladesh's policies pursue a moderate foreign policy that heavily relies on multilateral diplomacy, especially at the United Nations (UN) and the World Trade Organization (WTO). Since its independence in 1971, Bangladesh has stressed its principle of "Friendship towards all, malice towards none" in dictating its diplomacy. As a member of the Non-Aligned Movement, Bangladesh has tended to not take sides with major powers. Since the end of the Cold War, Bangladesh has pursued better relations with its neighbours and other nearby states.
After seizing power in the 1972 coup d'état, Major Mathieu Kérékou declared the People's Republic of Benin a Marxist-Leninist state and sought financial support from communist governments in Eastern Europe and Asia. To distance the modern state from its colonial past, the country became the People's Republic of Benin in 1975. However, Benin dropped the socialist ideology in 1989 following pressure from creditors and domestic unrest related to economic hardship.
The Gambia followed a formal policy of non-alignment throughout most of former President Dawda Jawara's tenure. It maintained close relations with the United Kingdom, Senegal, and other African countries. The July 1994 coup strained The Gambia's relationship with Western powers, particularly the United States. Starting in 1995, President Yahya Jammeh established diplomatic relations with several additional countries, including Libya, the Republic of China, and Cuba. As scholars on Gambia's foreign policy have argued, throughout Jammeh's period, the country's foreign policy was a shifting sand, with little of direction.
Throughout the Cold War, Ivory Coast's foreign policy was generally favorable toward the West. In particular, Félix Houphouët-Boigny kept relations with France that was among the closest between any African country and a former colonial power. The country became a member of the United Nations at independence in 1960 and participates in most of its specialized agencies. It is also an associate member of the European Union. In general, President Bédié initiated and maintained relations with many countries of the European Union and Asia. Ivory Coast maintains a wide variety of diplomatic contacts.
Its location in the center of Africa has made the Democratic Republic of the Congo a key player in the region since independence. Because of its size, mineral wealth, and strategic location, Zaire was able to capitalize on Cold War tensions to garner support from the West. In the early 1990s, however, with the end of the Cold War and in the face of growing evidence of human rights abuses, Western support waned as pressure for internal reform increased.