By Stephen V. Lansana
On Thursday, August 29, 2024, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MFAIC) has requested Le 324, 132, 302.00 for the Financial Year 2025
The striking budget proposal was made during the Bilateral Budget Discussions with Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) which was organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED) in Freetown.
The proposed budget was presented by the Assistant Director of Finance of MFAIC, Abu Bakarr Turay.
He proposed expenditure comprising finance to Foreign Missions which amount to Le171, 690, 3000.00, a budget monitoring and review which is estimated at Le 200, 000, and an International Treaty Reporting amounting to Le1, 000, 000, totaling Le 324, 132, 302. 00. The ministry has a budget ceiling of Le 244, 520, 400.00.
Highlighting their challenges, the Director General and Ambassador at Large of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MFAIC), Dr. Victoria M. Sulimani said they need Staff. “We don’t need staff only in our headquarters, but also in our Missions abroad,” she said, adding that their operations have expanded from 24 to 26 Missions and their staff are inadequate.
She said that when she came in 2023, she was told that there was a moratorium on staff recruitment, but two years down the line, they needed to apply for more staff.
She said that they need staff in all their directorates especially their middle ranks because it is a very important element in the transformation of her Ministry.
She also pleaded for the promotion of staff.
She said that they also have financial constraints, adding that the operations of the Foreign Missions are critical because they travel to international meetings where they cannot change their timing. She said for example that if the UN Security Council is convening a meeting, the country’s representation will be needed.
The Minister emphasized that they need adequate and timely financial disbursement to the Foreign Affairs Ministry.
She pleaded for Financial Autonomy. “I have been traveling and I have not seen Foreign Affairs that is not financially autonomous,” she said.