Strong Diaspora Presence Greets President Bio on Arrival for EU–AU Summit

Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio, who also serves as Chair of the ECOWAS Authority, received a warm welcome from hundreds of Sierra Leoneans living in Angola upon his arrival for the Seventh European Union–African Union Summit.

Many Sierra Leoneans gathered at the Dr. António Agostinho Neto International Airport, waving national flags and singing as they expressed solidarity with the President.

President Bio was officially received by Angola’s Minister of External Relations, Tete António, alongside other senior government officials. The large turnout of Sierra Leoneans in Angola underscored the continued engagement between the President and the diaspora community, many of whom said they were proud to welcome him and acknowledged his representation of Sierra Leone on international platforms.

The President is in Luanda to attend the Seventh EU–AU Summit, held under the theme “Promoting Peace and Prosperity through Effective Multilateralism.” The summit convenes African and European leaders to discuss cooperation on peace and security, governance, migration, sustainable development and strengthening multilateral partnerships.

Over the two-day meeting, heads of state and government are expected to adopt strategies to address shared regional and global challenges and issue a joint declaration reaffirming their commitment to collaboration.

President Bio’s arrival and the active participation of Sierra Leoneans in Angola highlight the strong presence of the diaspora and their ongoing interest in the country’s diplomatic engagements.