The Speaker of the Sixth Parliament of the Second Republic of Sierra Leone, Rt. Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas, on Monday, May 19, 2025 received a formal diplomatic note from the Indian High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, His Excellency B.C. Pradhan, announcing the upcoming visit of a delegation of Indian Members of Parliament.

The announcement was made during a courtesy visit by High Commissioner B.C. Pradhan to the Speaker's office, where he disclosed that the Indian parliamentary delegation is scheduled to arrive in Sierra Leone on May 28, 2025 and will visit the Parliament of Sierra Leone on May 29, 2025.

According to the High Commissioner, the visit forms part of India’s strategic effort to collaborate with other nations in addressing the growing threat of global terrorism. He strongly condemned recent terrorist attacks around the world, citing one particularly devastating incident in India that claimed numerous innocent lives. He emphasized that India is committed to working with select partner countries to confront the menace of terrorism through shared knowledge, policy dialogue and mutual security cooperation.

"India believes that through global solidarity and collaboration, we can effectively address terrorism and promote sustainable peace," B.C. Pradhan stated.

Beyond the primary focus on counter-terrorism, the High Commissioner highlighted the longstanding bilateral relations between Sierra Leone and India. He spoke about India's ongoing support for Sierra Leone’s development, particularly in areas such as education (including scholarship programs), infrastructure development, renewable energy, technology transfer, healthcare, science, water provision and financial assistance.

Reflecting on historical ties, B.C Pradhan noted similarities between the Indian and Sierra Leonean parliamentary systems, particularly their shared colonial heritage, legislative processes, committee structures and governance frameworks. He added that those commonalities, coupled with Sierra Leone’s strong diplomatic relationship with India, made the country a natural choice for the parliamentary engagement.

The Indian envoy also discussed broader global economic and financial transformation and reaffirmed India’s commitment to supporting Sierra Leone’s development aspirations.

In his remarks, Speaker Segepoh Solomon Thomas expressed appreciation for the planned visit and described it as a testament to the deepening ties between the two nations. He pledged Parliament's readiness to host the Indian delegation and assured that preparations are already underway to ensure a successful engagement.

"The Indian political system mirrors that of Sierra Leone in many ways, especially with our shared colonial background. India has been a steadfast friend to Sierra Leone and we are proud of the strong partnership that exists between our countries," the Speaker said.

He further noted that the parliamentary leadership would be fully briefed and involved in welcoming the delegation, underscoring the importance of strengthening inter-parliamentary dialogue and cooperation.

The visit is expected to deepen the partnership between the two nations and explore new avenues for collaboration on key global and regional challenges.

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