Deputy Permanent Representative Madam Michaela Swallow Joins Mayor Eric Adams at Sierra Leone’s 64th Independence Flag Raising Ceremony in New York.
New York City, April 27, 2025.
Her Excellency Ms. Michaela Eddinia Swallow, Deputy Permanent Representative of Sierra Leone to the United Nations, joined the Mayor of New York City, Eric Adams at the poignant flag raising ceremony in New York to mark Sierra Leone’s 64th Independence Anniversary.
Held in the presence of city officials, diplomats, and members of the Sierra Leonean diaspora, the event was a celebration of national pride, international partnership, and the enduring bonds between Sierra Leone and the City of New York.
In her address as Chargé d’affaires of the Sierra Leone Mission, Madam Eddinia Swallow stated: “Today, we do more than mark 64 years of independence, we honor a journey of courage, unity, and democratic progress.”
She acknowledged New York’s long-standing support for Sierra Leone’s diaspora community and praised the New York Police Department’s donation of 500 ballistic vests to Sierra Leone’s police in 2023. “This was more than a symbolic gesture, it was a concrete act of solidarity and a shared commitment to peace, safety, and public service,” she said.
Madam Swallow emphasized the deepening ties between Freetown and New York, rooted in people-centered diplomacy and cooperation in areas such as youth empowerment, climate change, and inclusive development.
“As a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, Sierra Leone is advancing priorities that resonate deeply with this city, from sustaining peace and protecting civilians, to elevating women and youth in peacebuilding,” she noted.
She also extended an open invitation to New York’s business and creative communities to explore Sierra Leone’s growing opportunities in tourism, technology, and investment. “Our nation is open, for partnership, for innovation, and for meaningful cultural exchange,” she said.
Madam Swallow paid special tribute to Sierra Leoneans living in New York whose contributions span healthcare, education, entrepreneurship, and civic service. “Their stories are woven into the fabric of this city and into the larger story of Sierra Leone’s progress,” she said.
Closing her remarks, she called for unity and continued collaboration. “On this Independence Day, we raise not just our flag—we raise our hopes, our partnerships, and our voices for justice and shared prosperity.”
On behalf of President Bio, Ambassador Michael Imran Kanu, and Sierra Leone’s Permanent Mission to the UN, she thanked Mayor Adams for his enduring support and leadership. The ceremony concluded with the hoisting of the flags of both Sierra Leone and the United States, reflections, the and celebration—honoring a proud nation and a promising future.
©️Eddinia Michaela Swallow
