Commentary
By Gibril Koroma, Editor/Publisher, Toronto, Canada
The recent visit to Sierra Leone by Mr. M’jid El Guerrab, a member of the French parliament, as reported by the State House Communications Unit, is very significant news.
El Guerrab, who represents the Maghreb and parts of West Africa in the French legislature, met President Bio last Thursday and they discussed bilateral relations. Also present was the Speaker of the Sierra Leone parliament Dr Abass Bundu who accompanied the visitor to State House.
Sierra Leone and France had had a diplomatic relationship for a long time, almost soon after our independence, and since then that friendship has flourished with us having an embassy in Paris and France having an embassy in Freetown, housed in a tall building around the Cotton Tree area. The American and the then Soviet Union embassies were also in the same neighborhood.
I personally think the 1980s were the “golden years” of Sierra Leone- France diplomatic relations with French investors pouring into the country. A lot of investment in the tourism industry was made by these investors and the crown jewel of it all was the establishment of Hotel Sofitel Mammy Yoko (now called Radisson Blu Hotel) which was opened just in time for the historic Organisation of African Unity (OAU) summit of heads of State in 1980. The OAU is now known as the African Union or AU. The other hotels that played a significant role during that conference were Hotel Bintumani and Cape Sierra hotels both of which had British connections.
The booming tourist industry in Sierra Leone in the 80s happened thanks to the French who would bring in hundreds of French tourists every week to enjoy the country’s sunshine, beaches and hospitality. I think some of them were also investors coming into the country to look for possibilities.
Chalets and bungalows were built by the French in the early to 80s on prominent beaches like Tokeh beach, Mama beach and others. Tour agencies would send mostly French tourists to the countryside to visit natural touristic sites and enjoy boat rides up and down the rivers.
French businessmen were also involved in mining, agriculture and several other activities and one of such businessmen, Michael Fletcher, was appointed French consul in Freetown when the embassy closed in 1996 due to the rebel war. Today, Bollore Africa Logistics, a French company present in many African countries, is transforming our major international seaport, the Queen Elizabeth II Quay.
Apart from tourism, the French government also invested heavily in education. Fourah Bay College, the then Milton Margai Teachers’ College and secondary schools all over the country received all formas of assistance in the teaching and learning of French. FBC and MMTC had French expatriate lecturers directly sent from France (paid by the French government), with free textbooks and French laboratory equipment. French students from Fourah Bay College were sent to France towards the end of their studies to absorb the culture and they received a hefty allowance for living expenses and accomodation. As a French student at FBC in the 80s, I was a direct beneficiary of that generosity from the government and people of France.
So, in essence, the relationship between France and Sierra Leone had been one of mutual benefit (although I would say Sierra Leone received more from the relationship) and that should be encouraged with the vigour it deserves. We need to return to thosee glorious days.
Sierra Leone closed its embassy in Paris in 2014, an unwise decision by the past government. It should be reopened by the current progressive government so that the French would reopen theirs in Freetown leading to a return of more and more French investors and the strengthening of the teaching of French and French technical assistance in all fields as in the past.
In fact both President Bio and Mr. M’jid have indicated a readiness to reopen embassies in each other’s country. Knowing President Bio as the Talk and Do president he is, we will soon have an embassy in Paris again and knowing the French for the speed with which they do things, we will have a french embassy in Freetown again soon.
Currently, the French embassy in neighbouring Guinea is also in charge of Sierra Leone.