Sierra Leone: President Julius Maada Bio calls for urgent UNSC reforms at UN Security Council
President Julius Maada Bio delivered a powerful speech today, August 12, 2024, at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in New York during a debate on the maintenance of international peace and security. He called for urgent reforms to the UNSC to address the longstanding injustices that have marginalized Africa within the UN framework.
“The current imbalance in the UN for nearly 80 years, resulting in the lack of a permanent seat for Africa, undermines the legitimacy and effectiveness of the UNSC, especially considering Africa’s significant contributions to peacekeeping and conflict resolution worldwide,” President Bio stated.
He continued, “Africa remains the unquestionable victim of historical injustice.” Bio emphasized that Africa, with its population of over 1.3 billion people and 54 countries—constituting 25% of the UN’s total membership—is grossly underrepresented in the UNSC, the UN’s highest decision-making body.
President Bio called for Africa to be granted two permanent and two non-permanent seats on the UNSC, with full veto powers, arguing that “Africa’s new challenges and aspirations are often overlooked in global decision-making processes.”
“The current structure of the UN reflects an outdated order,” he added, highlighting the efforts of the African Union Committee of Ten (C-10), which he currently chairs, in advocating for Africa’s equitable representation, as outlined in the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration.
President Bio concluded his speech by urging the international community to take swift and decisive action to implement these changes, warning that failure to do so would perpetuate the status quo.
His compelling address was met with a standing ovation from fellow African presidents, underscoring the strong support for his call for UNSC reform.
Credit: TheNews Nigeria
