By Saidu Jalloh, Daily Scope Reporter
Luanda, Angola, November 23, 2025 President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone, also the Chair of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, called for a renewed partnership between African and European nations, emphasizing mutual respect, shared responsibility, and genuine equality. He delivered his remarks during the 7th African Union–European Union Summit held in Luanda, Angola.
President Bio began by expressing his gratitude to the Angolan government and its citizens for their hospitality. He praised both the African Union and the European Union for organizing the Summit, which he described as timely and critical in the context of current global challenges. He noted that despite unprecedented global interconnectedness, the world faces growing fragility that necessitates stronger collaboration between continents.
While acknowledging Africa’s progress in democratic governance, President Bio highlighted the continent’s ongoing challenges, such as institutional weaknesses and unconstitutional governmental changes. He reiterated ECOWAS’s firm stance against coups and stressed that true stability cannot be achieved through mere condemnation.
“Sustainable stability demands credible, nationally-owned transitions, resilient institutions, and renewed trust between citizens and the state,” he asserted, underscoring West Africa’s determination to forge a future characterized by determination rather than crisis.
In addressing the alarming rise of terrorism and violent extremism across Africa, President Bio reminded attendees that the continent experienced the highest number of terrorism-related fatalities globally last year. He emphasized Sierra Leone’s proactive role at the United Nations Security Council in elevating critical issues such as small arms proliferation, hunger induced by conflict, and peace in West Africa.
“Peace cannot be enforced by bullets alone. It must be cultivated through inclusion, opportunity, justice, and a trusted state,” he declared.
As Coordinator of the African Union’s Committee of Ten (C-10) on United Nations Security Council Reform, President Bio asserted that reforming the global governance system is essential for fairness and legitimacy.
“The reform of the Security Council is not a favor to Africa; it is a long-overdue correction of historical inequities,” he stated. He emphasized that Africa’s sovereignty is non-negotiable, rejecting any partnerships that perpetuate old hierarchies or echoes of colonial dominance.
While acknowledging the longstanding collaboration between Africa and Europe, President Bio insisted that this partnership must transition from promises to tangible outcomes. He outlined key African priorities such as climate resilience, digital innovation, industrialization, youth empowerment, and increased investments in value addition and energy transition.
He reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s commitment to UN Security Council Resolution 2719, which ensures predictable financing for African Union-led peace operations, but cautioned that funding alone will not suffice without substantial structural investments in Africa’s economic framework.
Concluding his address, President Bio emphasized that Africa seeks partnership, not pity—one founded on dignity, sovereignty, fairness, and shared prosperity.
“Our people deserve a world where dignity is non-negotiable, opportunity is accessible, and hope is a right,” he stated. “Let us choose cooperation over competition, law over force, and hope over fear, forging a future as equal partners in a safer, more prosperous world.”
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