President Julius Maada Bio has delivered a powerful keynote address at the prestigious Oxford Union, urging the international community to support Africa’s long-standing demand for permanent representation on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
Speaking on “The Common African Position on the Reform of the United Nations Security Council”, President Bio emphasized the historical injustices faced by the African continent, noting that the current structure of the Security Council, established during a colonial era, fails to reflect the modern global order.
“As someone who has witnessed the horrors of war and now works for peace through diplomacy, I bear the voices of not only 7.5 million Sierra Leoneans but also 1.3 billion Africans,” the President stated. “We are asking for two permanent seats with veto powers, five non-permanent seats, and the right for the African Union to choose its representatives.”
President Bio, who also serves as the Coordinator of the African Union Committee of Ten Heads of State (C-10) on UN Reform, highlighted recent global momentum in support of Africa’s cause. He cited the 2024 UN General Assembly’s “Pact for the Future,” which acknowledged the need to redress the exclusion of Africa in global peace and security decision-making.
Addressing the youth at Oxford, President Bio called on the next generation of global leaders to embrace the cause of reform. “Equity in global governance is not a zero-sum game,” he said. “A more inclusive Security Council will be stronger and more legitimate.”
The address comes as the African Union marks 20 years since adopting the Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration, documents that unified Africa’s voice on UN Security Council reform.
President Bio concluded his address with a rallying call: “Let us seize the 80th anniversary of the United Nations as our moment to transform it. The world must finally repay its debt to Africa.”
