By: Amara Kargbo  

Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation(MFAIC), Alhaji Timothy Musa Kabba, participated in the inaugural launch of the Ramadan Iftaar Programme which is organized by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah, and Guidance of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The event took place on March 2nd, 2025, at the Mama Wurie Islamic Center Mosque on Coker Street, off Regent Road, in Lumley, Freetown.

Sheikh Abu Bakarr Conteh, President of the Sierra Leone Muslim Congress and a prominent Muslim scholar, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the custodians of the two holy mosques and the organizations that facilitated the event.

He described the occasion as significant for the Islamic community and thanked the organizers for nurturing a relationship with Saudi Arabia which has spanned over two decades.

Sheikh Conteh prayed for a continued blessings on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the global Islamic Ummah, especially now in the holy month of Ramadan.

Ali Ibrahim A. Alheji, Charge d’Affaires a.i. and Minister Plenipotentiary at the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Freetown, said the iftaar being organized is part of the broader efforts by the Saudi government to support the people of Sierra Leone.

The support includes donations of meat and contributions made to local feeding programs.

He said that the initiative would extend throughout this Ramadan, with plans to reaching many mosques in the future to further assist communities.

In his remarks, Minister Kabba expressed deep appreciation, on behalf of the Republic of Sierra Leone’s President, His Excellency, Julius Maada Bio and thanks to the King of Saudi Arabia, His Royal Highness King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and Crown Prince Muhammad bin Al Saud for their unwavering support, particularly in the area of fostering the longstanding bilateral relations between Sierra Leone and Saudi Arabia. He underscored the importance of strengthening these ties to enhance cooperation in education, health, and development, and by ultimately benefiting both nations and the broader Islamic community.

The Minister noted of the significance of the Iftaar event organized by the Saudi Arabian Embassy, which seeks to unite the Islamic community for ease of prayers observation and a way of promoting solidarity among people during the Ramadan.

He mentioned that this initiative, directed by the King of Saudi Arabia, reflects the core values of Islam, including compassion and generosity toward those in need.