Minister of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation
The Government of Sierra Leone
Dr. Samura Kamara is a development economist with a strong foundation in diplomacy, macroeconomic, public finance, central banking and financial sector policy analyses and reforms. He holds a Masters’ Degree (1980) and PhD (1986) from the University College of North Wales, Bangor. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone (1972).
As Sierra Leone’s top diplomat, Dr. Kamara is passionately dedicated to expanding the Sierra Leonean foreign service, and guiding it to take a regional advocacy role by communicating “why Africa matters” to the world. Under his stewardship, Sierra Leone is working with African partners for a stronger and more unified African voice on international affairs, including that of the reform of the United Nations Security Council to induct two permanent African members. In 2017, the African Union has identified key items which it will be communicating to the United Nations as one voice in a unified diplomatic bloc for greater exposure.
Experience:
2009-2012: Minister of Finance
2007-2009: Governor of the Bank of Sierra Leone
2006-2007: Alternate Executive Director for Africa Group I Constituency at the International Monetary Fund
2001-2006: Financial Secretary at the Ministry of Finance
1998-2001: Chief Program Officer at the Economic Affairs Department of the Commonwealth Secretariat
1994-1997: Financial Secretary at the Ministry of Finance
1991-1994: Senior Economics Officer at the Economic Affairs Department of the Commonwealth Secretariat