18/11/2025
HON. CHIEF MINISTER ATTENDS SIMANDOU MININIG LAUNCH
Information/Press Attaché
The Honorable Chief Minister of Sierra Leone, Dr. David Moinina Sengeh on behalf of His Excellency the President Brigadier- General (Rtd). Julius Maada Bio has witnessed the Launch of a multi-billion dollar Iron-ore Mining Project at Simandou, Guinea, on Tuesday, November 11, 2025. The mega mining project operations covering 650 km of railway stretching from the mining site to the exportation port of Morebaya in the Forecariah prefecture will provide thousands of jobs and serve as a catalyst for economic growth for not just Guinea, but the entire West Africa. The Chief Minister's presence at the groundbreaking event further exemplifies the shared commitment of the two countries in celebrating each other’s development initiative and the long atanding fraternity. Dr. Sengeh was accompanied by the Mines and Mineral Resources Minister, Hon. Julius D. Mattai, Minister of Communications, Technology and Innovation, Hon. Salima M. Bah, and Deputy Water Resources and Sanitation Minister, Ing. Francis Alpha Kallon.
At the Simandou mining exporting Port in Morebaya, Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to Guinea, HE Alhaji Mohamed Foday Yumkella, Deputy Ambassador, Madam Fatmata Sawaneh and other Embassy officials joined the Chief Minister and team in witnessing the auspicious event, alongside Guinean Head of State, Mamaddi Doumbouya, President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, Gabonese President, Brice Oligui Nguema, Chinese Vice Premier, Liu Guozhong , Prime Minister of Cote D'Ivoire, Robert Beugre Mambe, and other leaders. Executives of the investing multinational companies expressed their optimism for a successful mining venture, which they say would create employment and improve the lives of the Guinean people. Guinean Government officials, in their various statements, noted that the mining project will stimulate economic growth and the development of the country and qill benefit eapecially neighboring countries.
Earlier, at the border town of Pamelap, the Chief Minister and team were received by Ambassador Alhaji Mohamed Foday Yumkella and Head of Chancery, Madam Rakie Macarthy before being driven to the mining site under Guinean Government security es**rt.
In an other development, the Chief Minister later in the evening had a meeting with a cross section of the Sierra Leonean community in the Guinean capital Conakry.
Speaking to the gathering at the Sierra Leone Embassy in Conakry, Dr. Sengeh conveyed President Bio's warm greetings to Sierra Leoneans living in the neighboring country and emphasized the strong bond between the two countries of Sierra Leone and Guinea.
He spoke of the successful advocacy by the Government of Sierra Leone that led to Sierra Leonean school children in Guinea taking the West African Senior School Certificate Examination ( BBECCE and WASSCE). He called for unity amongst Sierra Leonean nationals living in Guinea and solicited their prioritization of the overriding identity as Sierra Leonean.
The meeting witnessed statements by Deputy Chairman of the All People's Congress (APC), in Guinea,Hassan Kamara, Sylvester Johnny- Chairman of the Sierra People's Party (SLPP) and President of Sierra Nationals Union in Guinea, Sheku Jawara all of whom spoke highly of the openess of Ambassador Alhaji Mohamed Foday Yumkella, and the cordial relationship between supporters of the SLPP, APC and the general membership of the Sierra Leone Nationals Union.
Ambassador Yumkella, in his statement, highlited the need for continued peaceful co-existence amongst Sierra Leonean nationals in Guinea, asserting he works as an Ambassador for all, irrespective of their political background.
Earlier, the Head of Chancery, Madam Rakie Macarthy welcomed the Chief Minister and the government officials - Mines and Mineral Resources Minister- Hon.Julius Mattai, Communications, Technology and Innovation Minister ,Hon. Salima M. Bah and Deputy Water Resources and Sanitation Minister, Ing. Francis Alpha Kallon. Also gracing the meeting was Deputy Ambassador, Madam Fatmata Sawaneh.
Umaru Sitta Turay
