President Dr. Julius Maada Bio
By Amin Kef (Ranger)
President Dr. Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone, in his capacity as Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority and Coordinator of the African Union Committee of Ten (C-10) on United Nations Security Council Reform, has renewed Africa’s call for permanent representation at the world body’s most powerful decision-making organ.
Opening the Seventh C-10 Summit on Sunday, 21st September 2025, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, President Bio described the gathering as “a moment of great historical significance” coinciding with the 20th anniversary of the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration. Those two landmark documents articulate Africa’s Common Position, demanding no fewer than two permanent seats with full veto rights and two additional non-permanent seats on the Security Council.
The Sierra Leonean Head of State reminded delegates that when the UN was established in 1945, Africa had no representation and remains the only continent without permanent membership, despite the fact that African issues dominate the Council’s agenda.
“This was not a plea for favour. It was and remains a demand for justice; to correct a historic wrong,” President Bio declared, adding that decisions about Africa must no longer be taken without Africa.
The summit brought together member states of the C-10; Algeria, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, Libya, Namibia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Uganda and Zambia, along with high-level dignitaries, including Angolan President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, who chairs the African Union, Kenyan President William Ruto, Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, and African Union Commission Chairperson, Mahamoud Ali Youssouf.
In his remarks, President Bio praised Africa’s consistent unity over the last two decades, stressing that not a single African state has broken ranks on the demand for equitable representation. “Despite our diversity, Africa has remained steadfastly aligned behind a single, principled position. That unity is our strength. No reform can succeed without a united Africa,” he noted.
President Bio highlighted recent milestones, including the Freetown Retreat and the Lusaka Ministerial Meeting, which culminated in the African Union Reform Model, a comprehensive framework providing a clear path for structured negotiations. He also pointed out that Africa’s case has been recognized globally, with even the Permanent Five (P5) members of the Security Council acknowledging the legitimacy of Africa’s claim.
While applauding the recognition of Africa’s position, President Bio stressed that acknowledgment must now translate into action. He urged the Permanent Members of the Security Council to back their words with genuine political will and called on all UN member states involved in negotiations to move beyond entrenched positions.
“As the UN marks its 80th anniversary, let us not allow another milestone to pass with words alone. The African Union Reform Model gives us the blueprint. The momentum is here. The time for action is now,” he insisted.
Concluding his statement, President Bio reaffirmed that Africa’s demand was “legitimate, non-negotiable and just.” He emphasized that equal representation for Africa is not only an African imperative but a global necessity, critical to the credibility, legitimacy and effectiveness of the United Nations in the 21st century.
“Let this generation of leaders be remembered for correcting an injustice endured for too long and for ensuring that the Security Council reflects today’s world, not the realities of 1945,” he concluded.
The Calabash Newspaper is Sierra Leone’s leading English‑language news platform—established in 2017 to deliver trusted coverage of politics, culture, health, and more to audiences both at home and abroad.
