Speaker of the Parliament of Sierra Leone Rt. Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas has called for closer parliamentary cooperation between Sierra Leone and Guinea during a visit to Conakry.

Thomas met Guinean President General Mamadi Doumbouya on 5 October 2026, following his participation in the official State Opening of Guinea’s 10th Legislature of the 5th Republic. He led a high-level parliamentary delegation to Guinea after being invited by Hon. Dr. Dansa Kourouma, Speaker of the Guinean National Assembly.

During the engagement, Thomas conveyed greetings and goodwill from Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio, the Government and people of Sierra Leone. He also congratulated Doumbouya on his recent election and acknowledged his leadership during Guinea’s political transition.

Call for legislative cooperation

Thomas proposed regular exchanges between parliamentary committees, greater sharing of legislative experience and stronger institutional links between the two assemblies.

He also congratulated Kourouma on his election as Speaker of the Guinean National Assembly and expressed appreciation for the hospitality extended to the Sierra Leonean delegation.

The Speaker said Sierra Leone and Guinea have longstanding historical, cultural, linguistic, family and socioeconomic connections. He cited the family names Dumbuya, Kondeh, Turay, Jalloh, Bah and Sheku as examples of shared identities between people in the two countries.

Regional challenges

Thomas identified economic transformation, insecurity, climate change and sustainable development among the challenges requiring coordinated action by neighbouring countries.

He argued that no country can effectively address those issues independently and called for stronger partnerships, information-sharing and collective action across the region. He also said closer legislative engagement could complement government-to-government relations and help strengthen West Africa’s collective voice internationally.

The State Opening was attended by senior government officials, parliamentary leaders, diplomats and other distinguished guests. Thomas delivered a goodwill message at the ceremony on behalf of President Bio, Sierra Leone’s Parliament and the people of Sierra Leone.

The visit highlighted the continuing role of parliamentary diplomacy in relations between Sierra Leone and Guinea, which maintain significant historical and socioeconomic links. Governance, trade, security and regional development are among the areas of shared interest identified between the neighbouring countries.

Reaffirming Sierra Leone’s parliamentary commitment, Thomas said: “On behalf of the Parliament of Sierra Leone, I pledge our continued friendship and partnership. May our two nations walk hand in hand toward a future of peace, prosperity and shared progress,”