The Ambassador of Angola to Sierra Leone, His Excellency Dr. Eustáquio Januário Quibato, resident in Conakry, Guinea, has paid a courtesy call on Sierra Leone’s Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Hon. Nabeela Farida Tunis, as part of preparatory engagements ahead of Angola’s participation in the 3rd UN Africa Gastronomy Summit, scheduled to take place in Sierra Leone from December 2 to 4, 2026.

The visit served as an advance mission on behalf of the Angolan Minister and the expected delegation, with the Ambassador acting as a proxy to facilitate logistical preparations and gain firsthand information on arrangements being put in place for participating countries.

Welcoming the Ambassador and his delegation, Hon. Nabeela Tunis expressed Sierra Leone’s readiness to host the continental event and assured the visitors that comprehensive arrangements had already been concluded in collaboration with UN Tourism to guarantee a smooth and memorable experience for all delegates.

The Minister explained that delegates arriving at the Freetown International Airport in Lungi would be received and accompanied to accommodation facilities situated close to the Julius Maada Bio International Conference Centre, where the summit will be hosted. According to her, the journey from the airport to the designated facilities is expected to take approximately thirty minutes.

She further informed the delegation that the principal conference sessions would be conducted at the conference centre on the second and third days of the summit. To support the expected influx of participants, additional accommodation facilities have been identified, including LIA Hotel, Gateway Hotel, and Tariq’s Resort, all located within an estimated seven to twelve minutes from the conference venue.

Minister Tunis also briefed the Ambassador on a range of activities being planned alongside the summit to showcase Sierra Leone’s rich tourism assets, cultural heritage, hospitality, and investment opportunities. She noted that the programme has been carefully designed to provide delegates with a unique experience of the country’s tourism potential while promoting Sierra Leone as a premier destination for international conferences and leisure travel.

The Angolan Ambassador commended the Ministry and its partners for the level of preparation already undertaken and expressed appreciation for the detailed briefing. He reaffirmed Angola’s commitment to participating in the summit and conveyed confidence that the event would further strengthen cooperation among African nations in the promotion of gastronomy, culture, and tourism.

The 3rd UN Africa Gastronomy Summit is expected to bring together ministers, policymakers, tourism experts, culinary professionals, development partners, and investors from across the continent to explore the role of gastronomy in tourism development, cultural preservation, economic growth, and sustainable development.

As preparations intensify, Sierra Leone continues to position the summit as a landmark event that will highlight Africa’s diverse culinary heritage while showcasing the country’s growing capacity to host major international conferences and events.

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