By Janet A. Sesay
Sierra Leone has officially commissioned the Julius Maada Bio International Conference Centre and the ECOWAS Logistics Depot in Lungi, marking a significant milestone in regional cooperation, diplomacy and peace-building.
The ceremony brought together President Julius Maada Bio, who currently chairs the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, alongside the Presidents of Senegal, Cabo Verde and The Gambia. Also in attendance were the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, senior ECOWAS officials, government ministers, diplomats, development partners and civil society representatives.
Organized by the Office of the Presidential Infrastructure Initiative (OPII), the event featured cultural performances, goodwill messages, keynote addresses, ribbon-cutting ceremonies, the unveiling of plaques and guided tours of the newly completed facilities.
Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh described the occasion as a historic symbol of Sierra Leone’s transformation from a country once affected by conflict into one promoting regional peace, security and cooperation. He noted that the ECOWAS Logistics Depot, built on the site of a former ECOMOG contingency base, now represents preparedness, solidarity and collective security.
President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, said the depot will strengthen West Africa’s capacity to respond to security threats, humanitarian emergencies, disease outbreaks and disaster situations. He praised President Bio and the Government of Sierra Leone for turning a long-standing regional vision into reality.
The Gambia’s President Adama Barrow congratulated Sierra Leone and ECOWAS, describing the facilities as symbols of regional unity, strong institutions and shared prosperity. He urged member states to continue investing in education, innovation and human capital.
In his keynote address, President Bio said the two facilities are strategic investments that will boost regional diplomacy, peace, economic cooperation and investment. He added that the International Conference Centre will serve as a venue for high-level dialogue and engagement that will shape the future of West Africa.
“We have affirmed our shared belief that when we build together, we rise together. West Africa will rise,” President Bio said.
The event concluded with the official ribbon-cutting, unveiling of the ECOWAS Logistics Depot plaque by the Heads of State, guided tours of the facilities and official photographs.
The commissioning of the two landmark projects reinforces Sierra Leone’s position as an emerging regional hub for diplomacy, peace-building and international cooperation, while strengthening ECOWAS’ operational capacity to respond to challenges across West Africa.