By Kadijatu Bangura, D.S. Reporter
At the Seventh C-10 Summit held at the United Nations Headquarters, President Dr. Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone reaffirmed Africa’s demand for permanent representation on the UN Security Council, emphasizing the continent’s need for a voice in global governance.
As the current Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority and Coordinator of the African Union Committee of Ten (C-10) on UN Security Council Reform, President Bio marked the occasion as a significant milestone, coinciding with the 20th anniversary of the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration of 2005. These pivotal documents articulate Africa’s collective stance on Security Council reform, advocating for two permanent seats with veto power and two additional non-permanent seats.
“When the UN was established in 1945, Africa had no representation. Today, it remains the only continent without a permanent seat, despite African issues being prevalent on the Council’s agenda,” President Bio stated. “This is not a request for favors; it is a rightful demand for justice to rectify a historical oversight.”
The summit convened representatives from the ten C-10 member states, including Algeria, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, Libya, Namibia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Uganda, and Zambia. Among the distinguished attendees were Angolan President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, the current Chair of the African Union; AU Commission Chair Mahamoud Ali Youssouf; Kenyan President William Ruto; and Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah.
President Bio commended Africa’s unwavering unity on this issue, highlighting that no member state has deviated from the collective position in two decades of advocacy. “Despite our diverse backgrounds, Africa has consistently rallied behind a unified, principled stance. This solidarity is our strength. No reform can succeed without a united Africa,” he asserted.
He also pointed to recent advancements, including outcomes from the Freetown Retreat and the Lusaka Ministerial Meeting, which have laid the groundwork for the African Union Reform Model—an organized framework for negotiations moving forward.
In closing, President Bio urged the permanent members of the Security Council to convert their acknowledgment of Africa’s claims into meaningful political action. “Africa’s demands are legitimate, non-negotiable, and just,” he affirmed. “Equal representation for Africa is not only essential for our continent but a necessity for the global community.”
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