Post a comment 
Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio has called on African leaders to intensify collective action and maintain unity in advancing the continent’s demand for meaningful reform of the United Nations Security Council.
Speaking Saturday at the Meeting of the Committee of Ten (C-10) Heads of State and Government on UN Security Council Reform, held on the margins of the 39th Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly, President Bio described the current moment as decisive.
The gathering marks 20 years since the adoption of the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration — Africa’s unified framework for Security Council reform.
President Bio, who serves as Coordinator of the C-10, reaffirmed Africa’s longstanding position that the continent seeks no less than two permanent seats with full prerogatives, including the veto power, and five non-permanent seats.
He argued that the current structure of the Security Council remains unrepresentative and perpetuates a historical injustice against Africa, despite the continent’s prominence on the Council’s agenda.
“The current structure of the Security Council remains unrepresentative and continues to perpetuate historical injustice against Africa,” President Bio stated.
The President highlighted key milestones achieved over the past year in advancing Africa’s reform agenda. These include the C-10 retreat hosted by Sierra Leone in Freetown in April 2025, which produced the Freetown Outcome Documents — comprising an African Reform Model, a Strategic Roadmap, and an Aide-Mémoire to guide coordinated advocacy. He also referenced the 13th C-10 Ministerial Meeting in Lusaka, Zambia, which endorsed these outcomes, and subsequent high-level engagements that have strengthened Africa’s negotiating position.
President Bio emphasized that Africa must now transition from general advocacy to text-based negotiations within the Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) process. He warned that any fragmentation among African nations or acceptance of diluted reform proposals would weaken the continent’s position.
“Unity is Africa’s greatest strength,” President Bio said, calling for predictable financial and logistical support from the African Union system to sustain the C-10’s work.
Concluding his address, the President stressed that Africa is not seeking reform as a favor, but as a matter of justice, equity, and legitimacy.
He reaffirmed his commitment, as C-10 Coordinator, to advancing the Common African Position with resolve, strategic discipline, and a unified voice, urging leaders to agree on clear next steps to maintain momentum toward a more inclusive and credible global governance system.
