Minister Kenyeh Barlay Delivers Stirring Address at 6th Ministerial Meeting in Timor-Leste
DILI, TIMOR-LESTE – At the opening of the 6th Ministerial Meeting of the g7+, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Planning and Economic Development, H.E. Kenyeh Barlay, delivered a powerful address celebrating 15 years of the g7+ as a symbol of unity, resilience, and global advocacy for conflict-affected and fragile states.
Speaking in Dili, the birthplace of the g7+, Minister Barlay paid tribute to the government and people of Timor-Leste for their enduring support and leadership in establishing the g7+ as a credible international voice. “It was in this very hall that history was made,” she remarked, describing Timor-Leste as a beacon of peace and resilience.
Minister Barlay expressed pride in Sierra Leone’s role as Chair of the g7+ for the past decade, a position the country assumed in 2014. She highlighted key milestones achieved under Sierra Leone’s stewardship, including the group’s Observer Status at the United Nations General Assembly in 2019 and Associate Observer Status at the CPLP in 2021. These recognitions, she noted, symbolized the growing influence and legitimacy of the g7+ on the global stage.
Reflecting on the group’s transformation from a fledgling coalition to a formidable international platform, she emphasized the g7+’s impact on global development discourse. “Our advocacy contributed directly to the adoption of SDG 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, and the establishment of the New Deal for Engagement in Fragile States,” she said. “We have demonstrated that peace is not just a prerequisite for development—it is development.”
Minister Barlay also highlighted the success of the Fragile-to-Fragile (F2F) cooperation model, which has fostered peer learning, technical exchanges, and mutual support among member states. She emphasized that the strength of the g7+ lies in its solidarity and home-grown solutions to fragility.
As the world faces escalating geopolitical tensions, climate challenges, and rapid technological changes, Barlay called on g7+ countries to remain united. “We are again at a crossroads,” she said. “We must ask ourselves how to preserve peace in a fragmented world, support one another, influence global policy, and strengthen our collective voice.”
Looking ahead, Minister Barlay reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s unwavering commitment to the g7+ mission, pledging continued leadership in amplifying the voices of 1.5 billion people across member countries. “Let us rise to the occasion,” she urged, “and continue to be champions of peace, stability, and sustainable development.”
The opening session also featured speeches from Timor-Leste’s Prime Minister and g7+ Eminent Person, H.E. Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, and a presentation by Dr. Helder da Costa, General Secretary of the g7+, who provided an overview of the coalition’s 15-year journey. Key documents shared included the “15 Years of Unity and Resilience” booklet and the 2024 Annual Report of the g7+.
The two-day meeting is expected to produce renewed commitments and strategies to tackle shared challenges, as member states continue their work to build peaceful, just, and resilient societies.
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