President Bio Courts Mining Investors Ahead of Major WAISS 2026 Summit

President Julius Maada Bio has identified Sierra Leone’s mineral resources as a key driver of sustainable development and a major opportunity for attracting international investment as the country prepares to host the West Africa Investment and Sustainability Summit (WAISS 2026).

The President made the remarks during a high-level engagement with mining executives at State House in Freetown, where he discussed the significance of the upcoming summit scheduled for November 16–18, 2026, in Lungi.

President Bio described WAISS 2026 as a critical platform for advancing regional economic transformation amid changing global industrial policies and growing demand for strategic minerals.

Addressing industry leaders, the President emphasized that Sierra Leone’s mineral wealth places the country in a strong position to benefit from the global energy transition.

“We possess world-class deposits of iron ore, diamond, rutile, bauxite, gold, and increasingly important critical minerals essential to the global energy transition,” President Bio stated.

He noted that the country’s strategic mineral reserves provide opportunities to attract responsible foreign direct investment, promote value addition, and strengthen domestic supply chains.

Government officials are positioning WAISS 2026 as a major investment platform aimed at fostering sustainable partnerships, encouraging responsible mining practices, and unlocking economic opportunities across Sierra Leone and the wider West African region.

The summit is expected to bring together investors, policymakers, industry leaders, and sustainability experts to explore ways of leveraging Africa’s natural resources for inclusive and long-term development.