In February, H. E. Shlomit Sufa went on a working visit to the Republic of Seirra Leone. As part of her working visit, Ambassador Sufa presented her Letters of Credence to President Julius Mada Bio. 

Ambassador Sufa also paid a courtesy call on some ministers of state and held meetings with other development partners. 

Israel and Sierra Leone has a long-standing fraternal relationship since the 1960s. In 2017, this relationship deepened further by the visit of then President Ernest Bai Koroma, the first ever visit to Israel by a Sierra Leonean president. We are still committed to move this a step further in sectors that will be mutually beneficial to both our governments and people. In the past, we have effectively collaborated in sectors such as agriculture, health, medical supplies and equipment, state visits among others. 

The state of Israel was very instrumental in both before and immediately after Sierra Leone’s independence, supporting in the construction of numerus public buildings in the capital Freetown. During the Ebola virus epidemic, the state of Israel provided a field hospital, and contributed $10 million to the United Nations Ebola Fund, the sixth-largest contribution in the world. 

Over the years, 657 Sierra Leones have benefited from MASHAV programs in Agriculture, Women Empowerment, Education, Health, Building Sustainable communities and renewable energy among others.

In 2016, Israel established the only Dialysis Center in Sierra Leone and was the first country in the world to deliver humanitarian aid following devastating mudslides, which killed over 1000 people in 2017.  In 2020, we extended support to the Ministry of Health in its fight against corona virus by donating medical supplies such as face shields, disposable masks, coveralls, digital and infra-red thermometers, surgical gloves among others. 

Again, Israel demonstrated its care and friendship for Sierra Leone after the Freetown fuel tanker explosion last year. We donated medical supplies worth about 90, 000 US dollars to support the treatment of the victims.