The Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Leonardo Santos Simão, concluded today a one-week visit to the Republic of Sierra Leone. On 15 October, the Special Representative co-chaired with H.E. Timothy Kabba, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the regional annual Open Day on United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) and subsequent ones on Gender, Women, Youth, Peace, and Security. In his opening speech, Mr. Simão stressed the importance of mobilizing all efforts to implement UN Security Council resolutions related to women’s role in conflict prevention, peace, and security: “Our responsibility is to ensure that Resolution 1325 (2000), Resolution 2250 (2015) and subsequent resolutions are fully implemented to reinforce the participation of women and youth, particularly young women, in all peacebuilding and development processes,” he declared.

Following the Regional Open Day, the Special Representative took part in the joint high-level ECOWAS-UNOWAS-AU Follow Up Mission of the International Moral Guarantors on the Agreement for National Unity, signed on 18 October 2023 between the Government and the All Peoples’ Congress Party (APC). Co-chaired by Mr. Simão and H.E. Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang, former Vice-President of the Republic of The Gambia, and joined by Justice (Rtd) Amraphael Mbogholi Msagha, the Commonwealth Secretary-General Special Envoy to Sierra Leone, the mission was backstopped by experts from the respective institutions as well as the Sierra Leone Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion (ICPNC).

From 15 to 17 October, the joint high-level delegation held consultations with key stakeholders to assess progress made in the implementation of the Agreement for National Unity, and to engage on steps taken to implement the recommendations of the Tripartite Committee Report. The delegation met with the two Parties of the Agreement for National Unity, other political parties, leadership of the House of Parliament, the judiciary, security agencies, the Electoral Commission, the Political Parties Registration Commission, the diplomatic corps and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs).

The joint high-level delegation was also received in audience by H.E Julius Maada Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone. The joint high-level delegation commended the two Parties for the progress made in implementing the Agreement for National Unity and encouraged all political actors, stakeholders, and Sierra Leonian citizens to maintain their resolve to continuously reinforce trust and promote inclusive dialogue for sustainable peace, unity, and stability in the country.

In his capacity as the co-chair of the joint high-level delegation, the Special Representative reaffirmed the commitment of the United Nations to continue working with all partners and key actors to promote national cohesion and consolidate peace, stability and development in Sierra Leone and in the subregion.