Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente, on August 3 received Sierra Leone’s Chief Minister and Chief Innovation Officer, David Moinina Sengeh, for discussions focused on enhancing bilateral collaboration between their respective countries across various sectors. Sengeh and his delegation are in Rwanda for the 2024 Africa Food Systems Forum (AFS Forum), from September 2 to 6 under the theme “Innovate, Accelerate and Scale: Delivering Food Systems Transformation in a Digital and Climate Era.” ALSO READ: Rwanda, Sierra Leone sign internal security deal Sengeh emphasized the strong historical ties and friendship between the two countries, highlighting the close relationship between their presidents. He noted that the discussions with Ngirente provided a strategic vision for deepening collaboration. “As Chief Minister, it was an honour to be hosted by the Prime Minister of Rwanda. We had a fruitful conversation on how to operationalize the various agreements,” Sengeh stated. He elaborated that these agreements cover key areas such as trade, innovation, security, technology, and agriculture. “The goal of our meeting was to outline the next steps for advancing these agreements,” he explained. ALSO READ: Rwanda, Sierra Leonean lawmakers to strengthen ties With over 5,000 participants attending the agriculture summit in Kigali, he said that during his meeting with the Prime Minister, agriculture and technology was a central topic of discussion. Sengeh highlighted the valuable lessons Sierra Leone has learned from Rwanda and the exchange of ideas, particularly in technology and innovation, which are pivotal for both countries. Additionally, he pointed out that air travel agreements were also on the agenda, reflecting the broad scope of cooperation. On August 26, the two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in internal security and correctional services. This agreement encompasses areas such as information technology, cybersecurity, counterterrorism, and the fight against other threats to peace, including illegal firearms trafficking, human trafficking, drug trafficking, and money laundering. The MoU underscores the commitment of both nations to address emerging threats and enhance mutual benefits through strengthened collaboration.
