The ten year-civil conflict in Sierra Leone ushered in the scaling down and closure of most diplomatic missions in Sierra Leone. Since the end of the war in 2002, many countries have re-established diplomatic relations and reopened their missions in the country. The Japanese government, on their part, have has opened a liaison office in Freetown, under the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) programme.

The Vice President of the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Mr. Kazuhisa Matsuoka, who called on President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah to inform him about the opening of their liaison office, said his country has decided to open the office at this time as they have realized that the country now has peace.

Mr. Matsuoka praised President Kabbah for his tremendous efforts in bringing peace to his country, for which he said, his government is very pleased. He told President Kabbah that now that peace has returned to the country, his government has decided to resume operations in Sierra Leone, and assured him of continued Japanese cooperation with the people of Sierra Leone. He informed the President that the Japanese International Cooperation Agency, which has its regional headquarters in Ghana, has particularly opened their liaison office as they are now prepared to recommence assistance to Sierra Leone with priority areas in infrastructure, education, water, health and community development. All that is needed now, he said, is the signing of a technical cooperation agreement between Sierra Leone and Japan. He, however, promised that with the establishment of a Technical Cooperation Agreement between Sierra Leone and Japan, they would be able to come in with their interventions, including training of personnel.

President Kabbah said he was delighted over Japan's resumption of operations in Sierra Leone and also expressed appreciation for the Japanese Government's financing of the study on rice, stating that he is still waiting for the report on the outcome of that study. He expressed hope that JICA will take follow-up action and start the implementation of recommendations in the report.

On the issue of the priority areas, the President emphasized support in the area of water supply, commending the Japanese government for their earlier intervention in the provision of safe drinking water in the Koinadugu district. He said that he foresees shortage of water this year as he had observed a fall in the level of water at the Guma Valley Dam that supplies water to Freetown and its environs.

In the area of infrastructure development, President Kabbah appealed to the Japanese to consider the construction of the Kenema-Koindu road, which he said is a very important route leading to the border areas with Liberia and Guinea and some of the country's most important agricultural lands where cacao and coffee are grown. He said the road is in dire need of rehabilitation to facilitate movement of people and particularly the security forces who are based in the border area.

Mr. Kazuhisa Matsuoka who was earlier introduced to the President by the Director-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ambassador Umaru Wurie, was accompanied by Japanese Liaison Officer, Mr. Setoguchi Nobuhiro, Mr. Kenichi Shishido, Resident Representative of the Japanese International Cooperation Agency in Ghana and Dr. Kishore Shankerdas, Honorary Consul of Japan to Sierra Leone.