By Marian Magdalene Bangura, Strategic Communications Unit, Ministry of Information and Civic Education
Sierra Leone is set to assume the presidency of the United Nations Security Council for the second time in just over a year. The announcement was made Tuesday, April 22, 2025 by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Francess Paige Alghali, during the government’s weekly press conference hosted by Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah, at the Miatta Conference Centre in Freetown.
The upcoming presidency in November 2025 follows Sierra Leone’s first tenure in August 2024, during which the country was widely praised for its principled leadership and advocacy on global peace and security issues. According to Deputy Minister Alghali, Sierra Leone’s performance earned it respect from both permanent and non-permanent members of the Council.
“Sierra Leone has proven that being a small country does not limit the size of our impact. When we take on issues at the Security Council, we are guided by the UN Charter and existing resolutions. Our consistency in what we say, do, and vote for has made us a respected voice,” she said.
As it prepares for the November presidency, Sierra Leone has identified three priority areas: Women, Peace, and Security; Youth, Peace, and Security; and Cybersecurity.
The focus areas, according to Madam Alghali, reflect Sierra Leone’s commitment to forward-thinking peacebuilding and the inclusion of historically underrepresented groups in global security discussions.
In addition to its role at the Security Council, Sierra Leone continues to lead Africa’s campaign for reform of the United Nations Security Council through its chairmanship of the African Union Committee of Ten (C-10).
Madam Alghali confirmed that Sierra Leone would soon host a high-level retreat in Freetown for permanent representatives of C-10-member states. The retreat will focus on building consensus around Africa’s Common Position on UN Security Council reform and developing a unified strategy for international advocacy.
“The C-10 was established by the African Union to ensure that Africa has a stronger voice at the Security Council. We want to correct the historical imbalance where an entire continent has no permanent representation,” she said.
The C-10 includes representatives from all regions of Africa; and Sierra Leone as chair, is tasked with advancing Africa’s collective interest on this critical global issue.
Deputy Minister Alghali also revealed that Sierra Leone is taking steps to enhance its international diplomatic presence, including increasing the country’s representation in global institutions such as the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
She announced that Professor Charles Chernor Jalloh, a respected legal scholar, is being considered as a candidate to represent Sierra Leone in key international legal and diplomatic platforms.
“We must put Sierra Leone in the global spotlight. Our voices, values, and vision deserve a seat at the table; and we are working to ensure that happens,” she emphasized.
As Sierra Leone prepares to once again hold the gavel at the United Nations Security Council, its government is making clear that it sees international diplomacy not as a stage for the powerful alone but as a platform for principled nations, regardless of size, to shape the future of global peace and security.
