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President Julius Maada Bio on Thursday received Leonardo Santos Simão, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel, at State House in Freetown.
The visit formed part of the UN’s ongoing work with leaders in the region at a time of political change and security concerns.
Simão, who heads the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), is in Sierra Leone on a working visit. During the meeting, he congratulated President Bio on his recent election as Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government and said the UN is ready to support him during his time in office.
The talks focused on issues facing the ECOWAS region. Simão gave an update on upcoming elections in several countries and said many governments have shown interest in peaceful and fair voting processes. He also noted that the region continues to face serious threats from terrorism and violent groups.
He spoke about how the UN is working with states across the region to improve peace and stability. He also praised Sierra Leone’s role at the United Nations, especially in the country’s support for Africa’s position on the reform of the UN Security Council.
President Bio welcomed the visit and thanked Simão for the update on current events in the region. He said Sierra Leone is ready to work closely with the UN, ECOWAS member states, and other international partners to support peace, democracy, and good governance.
He added that regional security needs more than military efforts. He pointed to the need for dialogue, development, and teamwork across the region. He said peace in West Africa can only come through strong cooperation between all ECOWAS members.
President Bio said he would continue working with ECOWAS leaders and international partners to help find joint solutions to the region’s challenges and to keep building peace and unity across West Africa.
