Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio addressed the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, emphasizing that durable global peace cannot be achieved without African leadership. He noted that the UN Security Council still reflects the world of 1945, with no permanent African representation. Bio lamented that Africa, home to over 1.6 billion people, has no permanent seat on the Council despite being a significant focus of the body's work.
President Bio, as Coordinator of the African Union Committee of Ten, reiterated the push for African nations to have two permanent seats and five non-permanent seats on the Security Council. He expressed disappointment that years of intergovernmental negotiations have not yielded tangible reforms, testing the credibility of the process. Bio urged Member States to have a consolidated model for reform, as committed to in the Pact for the Future.
Bio highlighted that representation becomes meaningful when it leads to changes in decisions and improvements in lives. He drew parallels with international financial institutions, which also have an imbalance in representation. For Sierra Leone, this issue is personal, with the country's history reflecting enduring disparities in wealth, power, and opportunity.
The Sierra Leone president emphasized that his country will advance the cause of African representation not as a plea for charity but as a call for acknowledgement, formal apology, and fair redress. He noted that during Sierra Leone's term on the Security Council in 2024 and 2025, the country worked as a voice of reason and a bridge across divisions.
President Bio's statement resonated with the theme of the General Debate, which focuses on global cooperation and effective multilateralism. He asserted that no durable global solution on peace, climate, food, energy, or technology can be built without African leadership. The continued absence of permanent African representation on the Security Council undermines the body's legitimacy and effectiveness.
Bio's call for reform is not new, but his emphasis on the need for African leadership in global affairs is gaining traction. The African Union has long advocated for increased representation on the Security Council, citing the continent's growing economic and demographic significance. The issue is likely to remain a contentious topic in international diplomacy.
The Daily Trust reported that Sierra Leone's push for African representation on the Security Council is part of a broader effort to reform the UN and make it more inclusive and representative. The country's experience on the Security Council in 2024 and 2025 has informed its approach to this issue, with a focus on building bridges and finding common ground among Member States.
Key points
- Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio calls for African leadership in global affairs, citing the need for permanent representation on the UN Security Council.
- The UN Security Council's lack of African representation undermines its legitimacy and effectiveness, according to President Bio.
- Sierra Leone will continue to push for two permanent seats and five non-permanent seats on the Security Council for African nations.
