By Kadijatu Bangura, Reporter D.S.
United Nations Headquarters, New York, Tuesday, 23 September 2025
President Julius Maada Bio delivered a keynote address at the Annual g7+ High-Level Summit, coinciding with the 80th United Nations General Assembly, where he celebrated Sierra Leone’s decade-long leadership of the coalition of fragile and conflict-affected states.
Reflecting on the nation’s transformation, President Bio emphasized that Sierra Leone has emerged as a guiding force, stating, “We have proven that fragility is not a destiny, but a condition that can be overcome with the right tools, trust, and time.”
Under Sierra Leone’s chairmanship, the g7+ achieved notable milestones, including the promotion of the New Deal for Engagement in Fragile States, securing Sustainable Development Goal 16 focused on peaceful and inclusive societies, obtaining Observer Status at the UN General Assembly, and delivering its inaugural statement at the UN Security Council during Sierra Leone’s presidency in 2024.
The President commended the coalition’s solidarity, particularly through fragile-to-fragile cooperation, which has aided member states in elections, peace processes, and health emergencies. “Those who have lived in fragility are best placed to guide others out of it,” he stated.
Looking forward, President Bio urged g7+ members to foster unity and prioritize sovereign development in addressing pressing issues such as climate change, unsustainable debt, pandemics, and geopolitical tensions. He called for equitable financing and stronger advocacy for climate justice and debt relief.
As Sierra Leone passed the leadership baton to the Solomon Islands, President Bio expressed pride in the coalition’s achievements and confidence in its future. “Our scars have become strategies. Our unity has become strength. And our vision is unwavering: no country should be left behind simply because its journey began from a place of fragility,” he affirmed.
Concluding his address, the President reiterated the g7+ founding principle: “No decisions about us, without us.”
For more information, contact Daily Scope Newspaper at dailyscopemedia@gmail.com.
