President Julius Maada Bio is set to lead a major debate on the reform of the United Nations Security Council.
The debate is part of the numerous things on the agenda of Sierra Leone for its leadership of the Council.
The debate which will be chaired by President Bio will take place in New York on 12th August 2024.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Timothy Musa Kabba, remarked on how big and important the moment is in the country’s diplomatic history: “For the first time in 53 years we are back in the Security Council. Today we are taking the Presidency of the Council. We will provide stewardship for the work of the Security Council for the next 30 days. That is a very important milestone.”
Information Minister, Chernor Bah, said Sierra Leoneans should be proud of this moment, while praising President Bio for his visionary leadership.
“Today we all should be proud as Sierra Leoneans for what we have achieved. We should also take time to thank President Bio for leading us to the global stage,” the Minister said during a special press conference on Thursday, 1st August 2024, to mark the event.
Sierra Leone has taken up the Presidency of the Security Council for the entire month of August. This gives the country the opportunity to lead advocacy on some of the key issues it has campaigned on, one of which is two permanent seats for Africa in the Security Council.
Deputy Director of Policy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Alan Logan, said reforming the Council was one of the major pillars on which Sierra Leone built its campaign.
“Sierra Leone is leading the Security Council reform on behalf of Africa. We are asking for two permanent seats and three non-permanent seats on the Council which will make it five in total for Africa,” Logan said.
He added: “We are undertaking this advocacy considering the historical injustice that the continent has faced.”
Sierra Leone has been a major leader in the C-10, a conference of African leaders pushing for reform in the Security Council.
The Foreign Affairs Minister said the country would use its position to bring this debate to the floor of the Security Council and invite C-10 members to participate.
But this is not the only event Sierra Leone will be leading, according to Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Francess Alghali. She said the country has plans to lead major advocacy on issues around peace, women and security.
“We have a unique experience as a result of the rebel war. We know the role women played in getting our peace, so we will be focusing on this with special attention on young people,” she said, adding that “we will ask countries to bring forward recommendations on how they can support the women, peace and security agenda.”
A special session on this subject will also be held on the 7th of August, preceding the very important debate session on the Security Council reform.
