BY BOCKARIE ALIEU
232NEWS, FREETOWN
In the past days, the government of President Julius Maada Bio confirmed on twitter that they will be opening an Embassy in Israel particularly in Jerusalem.
The question in the minds of many Sierra Leoneans is how would such relationship benefit Sierra Leone? This is not the first time that the country is having relationship with Israel.
In fact, history has revealed that Sierra Leone-Israeli Relationship started way back in the in the 19th Century when an Israeli John Myer-Harris and his brother Abraham arrived in Sierra Leone in 1885. John integrated into Sierra Leone and settled in Solima, Pujehun district where he married to a Sierra Leonean woman and he even joined the secret society in Sierra Leone.
The official relationship between Sierra Leone and Israel started in 1961 when Sierra Leone established political and diplomatic ties with Israel.
There was an Israeli Ambassador in Freetown and in 1962, Sierra Leone and Israel developed a consular agreement in which visas between the two countries were waived.
This relationship blossomed and led to several infrastructural and human capital development in Sierra Leone.
Following the Arab-Israeli War also known as the Yom-Kipurr War in 1973, Sierra Leone’s relations with the Israel severed. Even the African Union in 2002 officially disengaged relations with Israel as they stopped the Israeli Delegation led by it then Deputy Director General for African Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sharron Bar-li from serving as observer in the AU.
This embarrassing situation was purely driven by Algeria and South-Africa but over 42 countries in Africa have maintained healthy relationship with Israel.
Interestingly, Sierra Leone’s relationship with Israel in 1961 saw the construction of the House of Parliament, the Sierra Leone Post Office, the former Ministerial Building now housing the Accountant General Office, the Bank of Sierra Leone, the Kingtom Power House to name but a few.
In 1992, Sierra Leone rekindled relationship with Israel and there have been attempts by Israeli investors to invest in Sierra Leone.
Former President Ernest Bai Koroma upon assuming office in 2007, made one of his first official state visits to Israel. It was during that time that the idea of opening an embassy in Israel resurfaced but that didn’t come into fruition.
Also 15 months before leaving office, former President Koroma paid a visit again to Israel in 2017 and he met with the Prime Minister of Israel.
They discussed the possibilities of an Israeli private sector investment in eco-tourism, agriculture, fisheries and energy.
Former President Koroma thanked the Israelis for their support to Sierra Leone during Ebola.
Thus, Sierra Leone stands to benefit a lot if they established serious diplomatic ties with Israel. It will see huge private-sector driven development in agriculture more so when the flagship project of this government is to feed Sierra Leone.
The relationship between the two countries will see human capital development as well as development in the energy and security sector of Sierra Leone.
Sierra Leone will also use it position in the Globe to help leverage Israeli’s interest and it will give a positive image of Israel in Africa.
Sierra Leone should ensure this decision for an embassy in Jerusalem come into fruition as there are over five countries with embassies in the eternal capital of Israel.
