The Permanent Representative of the Republic of Sierra Leone to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), His Excellency Dr. Ibrahim Jalloh, has solicited the support of Member States of the OIC for Sierra Leone’s bid for a seat in the United Nations Security Council in the Non-Permanent category for 2024-2025. The election for the seat is slated for June this year.

The Ambassador who heads Sierra Leone’s delegation to Mauritania made the request for the UN Seat, during his address at the 49th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) on behalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Professor David Francis.

Ambassador Jalloh conveyed kind sentiments from His Excellency the President, Dr. Julius Maada Bio, the Government and people of Sierra Leone, to the OIC 49th CFM conference.

“Excellencies, distinguished guests, I would like to use this august platform to solicit Member States’ support for Sierra Leone’s bid for a seat in the United Nations Security Council in the non-permanent category for the period 2024-2025. Sierra Leone as the current Chair of the Committee of Ten African States (C-10) on the reform of the UN Security Council, is therefore well positioned to continue to play its crucial leadership role in promoting world peace and stability in a pragmatic and principled fashion in accordance with international law.” Ambassador Jalloh said.

He said that Sierra Leone had experienced its own share of conflict, epidemics, pandemics and humanitarian disasters, but today “it stands resolute as a shining beacon of religious tolerance and an island of peaceful democracy in the region.”

He said that, under the astute leadership of H.E. Dr. Julius Maada Bio in tackling such issues and facilitating peace in the country and the sub region, he would serve as “a good example of how to approach similar challenges.”

“This year’s OIC theme titled ‘Moderation:  Key to Security and Stability’ is apt, given the current state of affairs in the international system,” Ambassador Jalloh noted. He added that ‘moderation,’ in its principled and pragmatic form, “remains at the core of this symbiotic relationship which serves as the indispensable nucleus around which all else revolve for the possible realization of a more peaceful and prosperous international community.

He said the ‘Ummah’ continues to grapple with various conflicts, terrorism, Islamophobia, the impact of climate change, covid-19, natural disasters and economic crises which have affected the livelihood, security, stability and the economic development of many Member States.

In this regard, the Ambassador lauded the resumption of diplomatic relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Iran, which he said would certainly have a positive impact on the peace and security of the region as well as the ‘Ummah’ in general.

Ambassador Jalloh also emphasised that the security and political situation in the ECOWAS and Sahel regions require “a measured pragmatic approach” to peace, democracy and stability.

He reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s support to the Palestinian cause based on the relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions, and the Arab Peace Initiative. Ambassador Jalloh on behalf of the government of Sierra Leone expressed his profound sympathy to the Republic of Turkiye and the Syrian Arab Republic for the devastating earthquakes that have affected “these two brotherly countries leading to incalculable loss of life and property.”

In his keynote address during the opening session of the conference, His Excellency President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, highlighted the importance of the U.N International Day to Combat Islamophobia which coincided with the conference.

In his opening speech, the OIC Secretary-General, H.E Hissein Birahim Taha, stated that the Palestinian cause was a central issue for the Organisation. He said the Executive Committee of the OIC had discussed the issue and proffered recommendations which would be looked into.

He said a special OIC Ministerial Conference had been convened in Islamabad to address the situation in Afghanistan.

During the two-day conference, Heads of delegation delivered statements related to the theme as well as their positions on Islamophobia, terrorism, the political situation affecting some OIC Member States and Muslim minorities.

The OIC is the second largest Intergovernmental organization after the United Nations, which comprises 57 Member States. The OIC was founded in 1969 and Sierra Leone became a member in 1972.