Bio heads for Banjul for Barrow’s inauguration

Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio has departed Freetown for The Gambia to attend the inauguration of President Adama Barrow.

Barrow is set to take his oath to beging his second term in office on Wednesday, January 18.

A statement from the presidency in Freetown said President Bio is being accompanied by First Lady Fatima Bio, whose father hails from Gambia.

The Sierra Leonean leader and his wife are expected to return to Freetown on Thursday, January 20^th, according to the statement issued by Presidential Secretary, Yusuf Keketoma Sandi, via his personal facebook page.

Barrow, who first came to power in 2017, was re-elected in December 2021.

According to the Gambian government, Mr Bio is one of eight West African heads of state billed to attend Wednesday’s event which is scheduled for the National Stadium in Bakau.

Official banner announcing the inauguration of Adama Barrow as released by Banjul

Among the other heads of state are the presidents of Togo, Mauritania, Guinea Bissau and Ghana. The leaders of Nigeria, Senegal and Liberia are also attending.

All the invited heads of state are scheduled to land at the Banjul International Airport on Tuesday, it said.