By Kemo Cham
Despite struggling to meet its own fuel needs, Sierra Leone has pledged to help its neighbor Guinea cushion the effects of last year’s fuel depot explosion in Conakry.
The two countries have signed an agreement guaranteeing an uninterruptible supply of petroleum products to Conakry, the Guinean government announced on Saturday. It said the agreement was reached during a visit by its Prime Minister Dr Bernard Goumou to Sierra Leone.
Mr Goumou was in Freetown from Thursday, January 4th to Friday January 5th at the head of a delegation of the Guinean government for a thank you visit, in acknowledgement of the support Sierra Leone extended after explosion.
The incident at the country’s main petroleum depot in Kaloum, the administrative district of the capital city, caused a huge fire that completely destroyed the facility and claimed many lives.
It also led to an economic crisis, thanks to shortage of fuel.
The Kaloum oil depot was Guinea’s main petroleum terminal, holding the largest chunk of its imported fuel.
The country needs 70 million liters of fuel per month, which it has been unable to meet since after the explosion.
A temporary ban on fuel sale was lifted a few days after the explosion, but queues grew longer at fuel stations across the country.
Sometimes police clashed with protesting youths over delay in supplies.
The military led transition administration of President Col. Mamady Doumbouya has been seeking temporary measures to ensure sustainable flow of fuel.
Last week fellow MRU neighbour Cote d’Ivoire offered to provide the country with 50 million liters monthly. But there was no indication of the duration that agreement would last for.
The full details of the agreement with Sierra Leone were also not disclosed.
But the office of the Guinean Prime Minister described it as “crucial” to his government’s efforts in meeting the country’s fuel needs.
“This agreement marks a significant step in cooperation between our two nations and demonstrates the Head of State’s willingness to find quick solutions to the challenges we face following the incident at the fuel depot in Kaloum,” the statement reads.
Dr Goumou’s delegation to Freetown included Foreign Minister Morissanda Kouyate. He held a courtesy meeting with President Julius Maada Bio who pledged Sierra Leone’s commitment to working with its larger neighbor to ensure a sustainable supply of fuel during the course of its crisis.
Prime Minister Goumou, according to a short news release from State House in Freetown, extended the appreciation of Guinea’s junta leader to President Bio for the gesture.
President Bio is quoted telling the Guinean delegation that both countries would work together to ensure a sustainable architecture that would enable Guinea to get petroleum products from Sierra Leone for as long as necessary. The Sierra Leonean leader also spoke about the opening up of other opportunities in trade, health and energy sectors.
Sierra Leone was among the first countries to extend a helping hand to Guinea, both in the form of humanitarian support through the deployment of medics and medical supplies, as well as the provision of emergency fuel supply.
Vice President Dr Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh led a 15-man delegation to Conakry in the immediate aftermath of the explosion, which included senior government officials and the volunteer emergency and medical experts.
At the occasion at the Foreign Service Academy in Freetown, where the petroleum supply deal was signed, Prime Minister Goumou also decorated and honoured the 15 Sierra Leoneans, including Vice President Jalloh for their role in the emergency response to the explosion.
Jalloh was awarded one of Guinea’s top national honor – the ‘Grand Officier de L’ordre National du Kolatier de la République de Guinée.’
In a post on the social media platform X, the Vice President expressed delight at receiving the award.
“I am delighted to receive this distinguished award, which is the highest commendation given to foreigners. It also represents Sierra Leone’s solidarity and fraternity to a sister country,” he noted, describing Guinea and Sierra Leone as one people.
He also thanked President Mamady Doumbouya and the Guinean people for awarding him the “life time honour.”
