President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone has reiterated his appeal for urgent reform of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), asserting that the current structure fails to reflect today’s global realities and continues to marginalize Africa.
Speaking at the official opening of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, President Bio joined a high-level panel discussion alongside former Slovenian President Borut Pahor and Philemon Yang, the current President of the 79th United Nations General Assembly and former Prime Minister of Cameroon.
During the session titled “Reclaiming Diplomacy in a Fragmented World,” President Bio described the current UNSC framework as outdated and “unacceptable,” arguing that Africa’s absence from permanent membership exposes a deep historical inequity.
“Africa, home to over a billion people, remains without a permanent seat on the Security Council—this clearly shows the continent was never considered in the original design,” Bio said.
He emphasized that reform is no longer a matter of debate but of action, noting that while Africa’s call for inclusion faced resistance in earlier years, diplomatic efforts have led all five permanent members of the Council to acknowledge the legitimacy of the continent’s demand.
President Bio, who serves as the Coordinator of the African Union’s Committee of Ten Heads of State and Government (C-10) tasked with advocating for UNSC reform, urged African countries to speak with a unified voice. He called on global powers to embrace a more inclusive, representative international governance system to prevent future crises.
“We do not need a Third World War in a nuclear age—we need diplomacy and cooperation,” he stressed.
Touching on Africa’s role in peacebuilding and economic resilience, President Bio credited regional blocs for sustaining dialogue and development across the continent. Drawing from Sierra Leone’s own history of civil conflict, he reiterated that only through negotiation and open dialogue was lasting peace achieved.
“Peace is possible. Diplomacy works. And it should be the first tool we use to resolve disputes,” he said.
The Sierra Leonean leader also warned against blindly following models from mature democracies, pointing out that not all are suitable for younger democratic systems. He instead called for a reimagined global order built on respect, partnership, and equitable representation.
President Bio’s remarks were made during the forum hosted by Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who welcomed global leaders and reiterated his commitment to international peace and cooperation.