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On Friday, 11 April 2025, President of Sierra Leone, Dr. Julius Maada Bio, renewed his call for urgent reform of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), describing the current structure as outdated and unrepresentative, especially of the African continent.
Speaking at the official opening of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum at the Nest Convention Center in Türkiye, President Bio addressed global leaders on the need to change the composition of the Security Council to reflect today’s global realities.
He was received by the President of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who welcomed Heads of State and Government to the forum and spoke on strengthening bilateral partnerships and global peace.
President Bio took part in a high-level Presidential Panel Discussion titled “Reclaiming Diplomacy in a Fragmented World,” alongside former President of Slovenia Borut Pahor and current President of the 79th United Nations General Assembly, Philemon Yang, who is also a former Prime Minister of Cameroon.
During the panel, President Bio described the present structure of the UNSC as unacceptable, stating that the absence of a permanent seat for Africa indicates the continent was never considered in the Council’s original design. He said Africa’s population of over one billion people continues to be excluded in a system that has remained largely unchanged.
He said that while his early calls for reform were met with reluctance, continued engagement has led to acknowledgment by all five permanent members of the Security Council of Africa’s demand for representation.
President Bio also addressed the risks of inaction, pointing to the need for reform processes that are inclusive and peaceful. He said global leaders must act before tensions escalate and warned against the consequences of further delays in adapting international governance structures.
He pointed to Sierra Leone’s own past civil conflict, stating that it was resolved through dialogue and diplomacy. He said this approach remains the most effective way to prevent and resolve global disputes.
In his role as Coordinator of the African Union Committee of Ten Heads of State and Government on the Reform of the UNSC (C-10), President Bio urged African nations to remain united in addressing global issues, including growing tariff-related tensions.
He also cautioned against uncritical adoption of democratic models from countries with different political histories, calling for new approaches based on mutual respect and global cooperation.
