The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres has extended congratulations to His Excellency Dr. Julius Maada Bio for his successful re-election as President of Sierra Leone.
The felicitations, on behalf of the entire United Nations, was delivered at the ECOWAS Summit during a live global broadcast.
Similar congratulations were also extended on behalf of the United Nations to Nigerian President His Excellency Ahmed Bola Tinubu on his election earlier this year whilst the United Nations promised to as well help support for similarly successful presidential elections to happen in Liberia later this year.
His Excellency Santos Simão thanked the Government of Sierra Leone for the successful conduct of the June 24th multi-tier elections.
During his intervention at the Heads of State session, President Bio thanked the outgoing Chair of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government and President of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, H.E General Umaro Sissoco EMBALO, for the excellent manner in which he had conducted the trust and responsibility reposed in him by the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government during his tenure.
President Bio expressed his profound appreciation for the many congratulatory messages and warm fraternal felicitations on his well-deserved re-election and seized the opportunity to formally congratulate and welcome his brother and colleague H.E Ahmed Bola Tinubu who was attending his first ECOWAS Heads of State Summit as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
President Bio also thanked his colleagues for the overwhelming support Sierra Leone received from the Community on its election to the UN-Security Council non-permanent category for the period 2024-2025.
He stated, “Let me assure the Community that the resounding vote was a victory not only for Sierra Leone but also for ECOWAS and the entire Continent of Africa. We therefore commit to representing all of Africa and seeking the interest of the ECOWAS Community in particular. Together, we will promote the Common African Agenda of reforming the UN Security Council to reflect the current geopolitical realties.”
On the political governance and security within the Community, President Bio reaffirmed his commitment to support the ECOWAS transition agenda for the restoration of democratic constitutional rule in the sister countries of Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Mali.
“Excellencies, Sierra Leone just concluded free, fair, credible and peaceful elections on the 24th June, 2023, with an overwhelming victory for me and my governing Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP). This resounding victory provides us the unique opportunity to consolidate the progressive socio-economic development gains we have achieved over the past five years, consolidate peace and strengthen our democracy.
“For decades, Sierra Leone’s electoral process has stood the test of time to guarantee the constitutional rights of every eligible citizen to vote and be voted for. Following the successful conduct of our multi-tier elections, Iet me convey my nation’s gratitude to Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas and the ECOWAS Election Observation Mission Team to Sierra Leone for their professionalism and diligence in observing our June 24th multi-tier elections.” President Bio stated.
Dr. Julius Maada Bio won a landslide victory in the June 24, 2023 general elections to be re-elected Sierra Leone’s president for a second term of five years.
The Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (EC-SL) on Tuesday 27th June, announced at 4:20pm local time that President Dr. Julius Maada Bio of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) won 1,566,932 (56.17%) of a total of 2,789,808 valid ballots, beating out the ruling All People’s Congress candidate, Dr. Samura Mathew Wilson Kamara, who garnered 1,148,262 (41.16%).
His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio is again the Supreme Head of State and Grand Commander of the Order of the Republic, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Fountain Head of Unity, Honour, Freedom and Justice.
He first became President of Sierra Leone when he won the 2018 election and was inaugurated on May 12, 2018 as the 5th President of Sierra Leone.
Born on May 12, 1964 in Tihun, Sogbini chiefdom, Bonthe district, President Bio is one of 35 children born to Paramount Chief, Charlie Wonie Bio II, Sogbini chiefdom.
H.E. President Bio completed his primary, secondary and undergraduate education in Sierra Leone. Always driven by a passion to serve his country, H.E. President Bio started his illustrious public service journey as a school teacher before joining the Sierra Leone Army where he rose through the ranks as Brigadier.
He previously served as Chief Secretary of State, Chief of Defense Staff, Minister of Information, Minister of Marine Resources, Deputy Head of State, and ultimately as Head of State of Sierra Leone from January to March 1996.
As Head of State, President Bio presided over the conduct of the first democratic elections in Sierra Leone in nearly three decades. In Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Wonie Bio is popularly referred to as the “Father of Democracy” because of his outstanding contribution towards the restoration of democracy and attainment of peace in Sierra Leone.
President Bio is a well-known Philanthropist and Humanitarian through the work of the Maada and Fatima Bio Foundation. The Foundation donated food and other items to victims and families affected by the 2014 Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone and during the environmental disasters of 2015.
Most recently, he was a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Bradford, United Kingdom, pursuing a doctorate programme in Peace Studies.
H.E. President Bio credits his mother, Mamie Amie, as the person from whom he acquired all his driving principles in life – calmness, hard worker, and a staunch believer in God.
