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His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone, in his capacity as Coordinator of the African Union Committee of Ten (C-10), presided over the Sixth C-10 Summit, which was held virtually on Friday.
The summit centred on advancing Africa’s long-standing call for reform of the United Nations Security Council, with particular emphasis on the continent’s demand for permanent representation.
Addressing fellow African leaders, President Bio emphasized the urgency of reforming the global peace and security architecture to reflect the principles of fairness and inclusivity. He reiterated Africa’s call for at least two permanent seats with all rights and privileges, including the veto if it remains, and two additional non-permanent seats.
“Our call is not for charity but for fairness,” President Bio stated during the meeting. “Africa will no longer accept marginalization. The time to act is now.”
The summit builds upon progress made since the Fifth C-10 Summit in Equatorial Guinea and the adoption of the Oyala Plan of Action in February 2024. President Bio highlighted Sierra Leone’s recent presidency of the UN Security Council in August 2024, which featured the Council’s first high-level debate specifically addressing Africa’s exclusion from permanent membership.
Key developments discussed during the summit included the submission of the African Union Reform Model to the ongoing Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) on UN reform. The model articulates Africa’s unified stance, grounded in the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration, which have shaped the continent’s position over the past two decades.
President Bio also pointed to increasing international recognition of Africa’s demands, citing outcomes from the UN Pact for the Future and a ministerial-level dialogue with the Permanent Members (P5) of the Security Council during the 79th UN General Assembly.
In preparation for the 80th UN General Assembly and the 20th anniversary of the Ezulwini Consensus, President Bio called for continued unity among African nations and intensified engagement with global partners. He emphasized that Africa’s inclusion would not only correct a historical imbalance but also enhance the legitimacy and operational effectiveness of the Security Council.
The summit concluded with a renewed commitment from C-10 member states to advocate for the Common African Position in all relevant international fora. The leaders pledged to maintain momentum in the collective push for comprehensive and equitable Security Council reform.
The C-10, established by the African Union, is mandated to advocate and build international support for Africa’s position in the reform process. It comprises ten African heads of state and government, representing various sub-regions of the continent.
