President Cyril Ramaphosa has, on behalf of the government and the people of the Republic of South Africa, congratulated Julius Maada Bio on his election as President of the Republic of Sierra Leone.

In a statement on Friday, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation said Ramaphosa commended the outgoing president, Ernest Bai Koroma, after serving two five-year terms.

"The peaceful and democratic manner under which these elections were conducted signify yet another positive step towards the deepening of democracy on the African continent," said Ramaphosa.
 
The South African president assured his counterpart President Bio of his commitment to strengthen bilateral relations between South Africa and Sierra Leone.