Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio has intensified calls for Africa to secure a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, citing long-standing historical injustices and the continent’s evolving role in global peacebuilding. His appeal was made in a video message released on June 26, marking the 80th anniversary of the signing of the UN Charter.
As current Chair of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), President Bio used the occasion to press for reforms that would grant Africa permanent representation on the Council, alongside two additional non-permanent seats. He stressed that Africa’s exclusion from the Council’s permanent membership contradicts the principles of equity and fairness enshrined in the Charter. “After 80 years, the time has come for the Security Council to reflect the realities of the world today—not those of 1945. Africa, home to over 1.4 billion people and a key contributor to peacekeeping and global development, deserves a voice where it matters most,” Bio stated.
His remarks align with the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration, which outline Africa’s unified position on UN reform, including the demand for at least two permanent seats with veto power and five non-permanent seats. President Bio also highlighted Africa’s disproportionate burden of conflict-related decisions made without its full participation, despite hosting nearly 60% of the UN’s peacekeeping operations. The push for a restructured Security Council has gained momentum in recent years, with leaders from the African Union, Caribbean nations, and even European allies backing proposals for a more democratic and representative UN system.