AYV News, June 6, 2023
Sierra Leone has been elected as non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), representing the African region.The UN General Assembly voted on Tuesday to fill non-permanent seats on the 15-member council.His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio said: ““It is with profound honour and a deep sense of fulfilment to convey the news that Sierra Leone, for the first time in 52 years and for only the second time in our nation’s history, has been elected as a Non-Permanent Member of the United Nations Security Council for the term 2024-2025.“Our candidacy was anchored on the theme of ‘Partnership, Multilateralism and Representative Approach to Sustained Global Peace and Security’ and Sierra Leone was elected by an overwhelming majority of the United Nations General Assembly, running as an endorsed candidate of the African Union.“Our return to the UN Security Council is a generational accomplishment and a testament to my SLPP Government’s transformation of Sierra Leone’s international reputation and standing and our immense foreign policy gains over the past 5 years.“Our presence on the UN-SC represents our unique success as a democratic and peaceful country of resilience and unbounded optimism. One that successfully transitioned from war to peace while working in partnership with the United Nations.“A country no longer defined by the stigma of the past. A beacon of hope and fortitude. A place of great belief that the future will be better, more just and more peaceful because of the investments we are making today in an inclusive and sustainable future.“As Sierra Leone accedes to this primary global decision-making organ on peace and security matters at the United Nations, let me, on behalf of every Sierra Leonean, express our profound gratitude to our African brothers and sisters and their Governments for their unwavering and unconditional demonstration of solidarity. Sierra Leone’s success is Africa’s success.“I also thank the member States of the UN for their overwhelming support and trust in the people and Government of Sierra Leone under my leadership. On this momentous day, I call on every Sierra Leonean to hold their head high, celebrate and be proud of Sierra Leone’s historic achievement at the heart of the international system”.The UNSC is one of the six organs of the UN and has the primary responsibility of maintaining international peace and security.Five of the Council’s members -China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States- have permanent status.Known collectively as the P5, they each have the power to veto a resolution.The remaining 10 members are elected on a rotating basis for non-consecutive two-year terms and do not have veto power.Sierra Leone launched its bid for membership in May 2022 as part of a campaign to lobby regional powers for support.Sierra Leone later received the endorsement of the African Union at its 39th Ordinary Session of Heads of State and Government, and Algeria at its 37th Session.Sierra Leone has served on the Council once, from 1970 to 1971, since it joined the UN in 1961.Announcing his country’s candidacy last year, President Julius Maada Bio described the move as a step towards fulfilling a desire to promote and sustain global peace.His government said it wanted to use the country’s experience of civil war to promote global peace.According to the government, the candidacy would also strengthen Africa’s efforts for a reformed UN Security Council.Sierra Leone currently chairs the African Union’s Committee of Ten (C-10), which is charged with negotiating the continent’s position on UNSC reform. Other members of the committee are Kenya, Equatorial Guinea, the Republic of Congo, Namibia, Zambia, Libya, Algeria, Senegal and Uganda.Africa wants to have two permanent representatives on the Council and two additional non-permanent seats, as enshrined in the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration, also known as the African Common Position.
