His Excellency, Sierra Leone President Dr. Julius Maada Bio, has issued a resounding call for decisive action on United Nations Security Council reform, highlighting Africa’s legitimate and long-overdue request for permanent representation. President Bio described the Sixth Summit of the African Union Committee of Ten Heads of State and Government (C-10), held virtually on Friday, as a watershed moment in Africa’s two-decade-long quest for equity and justice in global governance.
“As a continent historically excluded from the highest decision-making body on global peace and security, our call is not for charity but for fairness,” Bio’s president said. “Africa will no longer tolerate marginalisation. “The time to act is now.”
President Bio, who is also the C-10 Coordinator, discussed key milestones since the Fifth C-10 Summit in Equatorial Guinea and the adoption of the Oyala Plan of Action in February 2024. He highlighted the progress made during Sierra Leone’s presidency of the UN Security Council in August 2024, including the first-ever high-level debate on Africa’s exclusion from permanent membership.
The President outlined the next phase of C-10 advocacy, which includes submitting the African Union Reform Model to the Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) process, a model that calls for no less than two permanent seats with all rights, including the veto, and two additional non-permanent seats for Africa.
“These are not symbolic developments, they are signals that the world is finally listening,” he said, referring to global acknowledgements such as the UN Pact for the Future and a direct ministerial dialogue with the P5 during UNGA79.
President Bio emphasized the importance of unity, coherence, and high-level engagement in the coming years, particularly as the 80th UN General Assembly and the 20th anniversary of the Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration approach in September 2025.
“We must align our messaging, mobilize our partners, and continue to advocate for Africa’s proper role in global governance. Our inclusion not only serves justice, but it also strengthens the Security Council’s legitimacy and effectiveness,” he stated.
The summit concluded with C-10 leaders renewing their commitment to advancing the Common African Position and keeping Africa’s voice at the center of all global peace and security discussions.
