President Bio Reiterates Africa’s Call for UNSC Reform
Oxford, United Kingdom,
On May 26, 2025, His Excellency Dr. Julius Maada Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, delivered a powerful and impassioned keynote address at the prestigious Oxford Union, amplifying Africa’s resolute call for permanent representation on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). In his remarks on “The Common African Position on the Reform of the United Nations Security Council,” President Bio meticulously dissected the historical injustices that have long marginalized the African continent, asserting that the existing architecture of the Security Council, a relic of a bygone colonial era, is woefully inadequate for the complexities of the modern global landscape.
“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 declared, his voice resonating with the weight of continental aspiration. He articulated Africa’s unified demand: “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.” This comprehensive proposal underscores Africa’s determination to not only secure a rightful place at the global decision-making table, but also to control its own representation.
President Bio, who also serves as the influential Coordinator of the African Union Committee of Ten Heads of State (C-10) on UN Reform, strategically highlighted the burgeoning global momentum in favor of Africa’s long-standing advocacy. He pointed to the pivotal 2024 UN General Assembly’s “Pact for the Future,” a landmark document that expressly acknowledged the imperative to rectify the historical exclusion of Africa in critical global peace and security decision-making processes. This recognition, he underscored, signifies a growing international consensus on the urgency of reform.
Directing his address to the bright minds gathered at Oxford, President Bio issued a clarion call to the next generation of global leaders, imploring them to champion the cause of reform. “Equity in global governance is not a zero-sum game,” he affirmed, dispelling any notion of a competitive struggle. “A more inclusive Security Council will be stronger and more legitimate.” This perspective frames reform not as a concession, but as an essential enhancement to global governance itself. The President’s address gains particular resonance as the African Union commemorates two decades since the seminal adoption of the Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration, foundational documents that cemented Africa’s unified and unwavering stance on UN Security Council reform.
President Bio concluded his address with a potent and memorable rallying cry, urging collective action: “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.” This powerful statement encapsulates the historical imperative and moral urgency driving Africa’s demand for a just and equitable international order.