Sierra Leone and Guinea are moving to strengthen cross-border tourism, cultural exchange and heritage cooperation following a working visit by Sierra Leone’s Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Nabeela Tunis, to her Guinean counterpart, Moussa Sylla, Minister of Culture, Tourism and Handicrafts.
The visit, which coincided with Guinea’s Independence Anniversary celebrations, focused on turning the longstanding relationship between the neighbouring countries into practical initiatives capable of generating greater visitor flows, cultural exchange and private-sector opportunities.
A key element of the discussions was Sierra Leone’s invitation to Guinea to participate in the second edition of the One Nation Reggae Festival. Minister Tunis presented French-language promotional materials and encouraged the participation of Guinean artists, while calling for the festival to be actively promoted in Guinea.
She positioned the week-long event as more than a music festival, describing it as a platform for reflection, the restoration of Africa’s heritage and the celebration of a shared African identity.
Sierra Leone also invited Guinea to participate in the 3rd UN Tourism Regional Forum on Gastronomy Tourism for Africa, which will be held immediately after the festival. Guinean chefs, culinary businesses and food producers are being encouraged to attend, with the two countries exploring opportunities for culinary collaboration and fusion.
Further opportunities for regional engagement include opening Sierra Leone’s 2nd Coastal Unity Boat Race to teams from Guinea and Liberia under the spirit of the Mano River Union. Minister Tunis also invited young Guineans to participate in the Inter-Generational Dialogue scheduled for November 2026, in partnership with Jamaica’s Ministry of Tourism.
Beyond individual events, the ministers discussed the development of joint cross-border tourism packages. Tunis said she had directed the Sierra Leone National Tourist Board to begin discussions with its Guinean counterpart on potential joint circuits. She also offered Sierra Leone’s technical expertise, including support from the Research Lead at the Monuments and Relics Commission.
The initiative aligns with Sierra Leone’s 2026 Year of Culture and Creativity and its wider ambition to build a private-sector-led tourism economy. Tunis highlighted ongoing discussions with potential investors and positioned the growing cooperation with Guinea as an opportunity for greater regional investment.
Minister Sylla welcomed the proposals, accepting the invitations to the One Nation Reggae Festival and Gastronomy Forum and supporting the development of joint tour circuits potentially extending to Liberia.
He also called for a Memorandum of Understanding covering culture, tourism and heritage, including cooperation on UNESCO World Heritage nominations. Other proposals included a jointly organised Mano River Union festival, while Sierra Leone was invited to Guinea’s inaugural Djembe Festival in December 2026.
The two sides agreed to establish a joint working group to develop and implement the proposed MoU, with Sierra Leone’s Head of Chancery and Guinea’s Chef de Cabinet serving as focal points.
The meeting concluded with Minister Sylla presenting Tunis with a symbolic Nimba mask, underscoring the cultural ties and deepening cooperation between the two countries.
Minister Tunis was accompanied by Sierra Leone’s Head of Chancery to Guinea, Ishmael Kamara; Deputy Director for Culture and Creativity, Francis Momoh; Research and Development Lead at the Monuments and Relics Commission, Fatmata Samura; Senior Assistant Secretary, Emmanuel Suma; and Fatima Kamara.
