Sierra Leone Advocates for Predictable Financing for African-Led Sahel Operations

Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio urged the international community to fully implement a United Nations Security Council resolution — cited in the transcript as “27 19” — that recognises the need for predictable financing for African peace operations and establishes a framework for case-by-case contributions. Speaking about the deteriorating security situation in the Sahel and its spillover into West Africa, President Bio stated that terrorism and violent extremism pose a serious threat to international peace and security, and that African efforts to combat the threat must be supported by strong and sustained international cooperation.
The president emphasised the importance of translating the council’s commitment into tangible, consistent funding. He cited the proposed “echo” or standby force intended to combat terrorism in West Africa as an example of an initiative that will need consistent, ongoing support to be effective. Sierra Leone, he said, is taking its role seriously: as chair of ECOWAS under the arrangement mentioned in the transcript, the country is committed to enhancing regional cooperation, intelligence sharing, and joint training among member states.
President Bio also thanked UN Secretary-General António Guterres for “his renewed attention and dedicated support” of Sahel issues. When asked by the press about the potential composition and timeline of a stabilisation force, as well as whether Sierra Leone would participate directly, the representative cautioned that it is “too early to propose or prescribe” operational details and emphasised the importance of clear partner commitments before proceeding.
On the humanitarian front, the president highlighted the crisis in Sudan, citing displacement figures recorded in the transcript: “over 12,000,000 people displaced and another 4,000,000 in the other countries around,” and warning that the influx has already overwhelmed neighbouring countries’ food systems and essential services.
The transcript contains strong calls for predictable financing and operational support for African-led missions, but no concrete implementation plans, donor commitments, or a timeline for deploying any standby force.