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President Julius Maada Bio concluded a high-level virtual meeting of Eminent Persons of the G7+, where he called for intensified collective action to address political and security challenges in fragile member states, particularly Guinea-Bissau and South Sudan.
The meeting, convened by Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, to strengthen cooperation, solidarity, and strategic engagement among G7+ countries and establish formal bilateral relations between the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste and the Republic of Sierra Leone.
In his remarks, President Bio commended Timor-Leste for its continued leadership in hosting the G7+ Secretariat and reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s commitment to advancing the group’s core principles of peace, resilience, and sustainable development. He emphasized that the G7+ remains a vital platform for collective advocacy, peer learning, and cooperation among countries with shared experiences of fragility and post-conflict recovery.
President Bio noted that the country remains in a fragile transitional phase, requiring sustained regional and international engagement. He reiterated that the Economic Community of West African States remains guided by its protocol on democracy and good governance, which rejects unconstitutional changes of government. He highlighted ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at restoring constitutional order and ensuring stability ahead of planned elections.
Additionally, President Bio described South Sudan as being at a delicate stage in its peace process. While acknowledging the framework provided by the Revitalized Peace Agreement, he pointed to persistent challenges in security sector reform, constitutional development, and preparations for credible elections. He stressed the need for sustained dialogue, trust-building, and inclusive political processes to support lasting peace.
President Bio called on the G7+ to intensify peer-to-peer engagement and solidarity missions, promote inclusive political dialogue, and advocate for sustained international support tailored to country-specific realities. He also proposed the convening of a high-level meeting of G7+ Eminent Persons to develop a strategic roadmap for engagement in fragile contexts.
Highlighting Sierra Leone’s post-conflict recovery experience, the President underscored the importance of strengthening institutions, promoting accountable governance, and encouraging community-based approaches to peacebuilding. He reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s readiness to support mediation, reconciliation, and confidence-building efforts within the G7+ framework.
The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment among G7+ members to strengthen solidarity, enhance global advocacy, and ensure that fragile states are supported in their pursuit of peace, stability, and sustainable development.
