Sierra Leone, Russia Sign Transport Pact
Sierra Leone and the Russian Federation have signed a milestone Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on transport cooperation, laying the groundwork for strategic collaboration across aviation, maritime shipping, logistics, and infrastructure development.
The historic agreement was formally signed by Sierra Leone's Minister of Transport and Aviation, Ambassador Alhaji Fanday Turay, alongside Russian officials during the Third Russia-Africa Summit and Economic and Humanitarian Forum in Moscow on October 31, 2026.
Marking the first bilateral transport deal between the two nations, the accord establishes a joint framework aimed at boosting trade routes, enhancing cargo logistics, and modernizing vital transit networks.
During high-level discussions, Russian Deputy Transport Minister Dmitry Zverev proposed streamlining transport procedures, introducing competitive freight pricing, and exploring direct commercial flight connections between Freetown and Moscow.
Russia also expressed strong interest in supporting the development and modernization of Sierra Leone's port infrastructure, contingent on finalized financial terms.
Hailing the agreement as a vital step for bilateral ties, Minister Turay recommended forming a specialized joint technical team immediately to draft a clear implementation roadmap, targeting actionable follow-up agreements by April 2027.
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