By Kadijatu Bangura, Daily Scope Reporter
Luanda, Angola – In a powerful address at the 7th African Union-European Union Summit on November 23, 2025, President Dr. Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone urged leaders from Africa and Europe to forge a partnership grounded in mutual respect, shared responsibilities, and genuine equality.
President Bio, who also chairs the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, expressed gratitude to the Angolan government and its citizens for their warm hospitality. He recognized the importance of the summit at this pivotal moment in global affairs. Despite the increased interconnectedness of the world, he cautioned that it remains fragile and requires deeper international collaboration.
Highlighting Africa’s strides in democratic governance, President Bio warned that significant challenges persist, including institutional weaknesses and unconstitutional changes in government. He reiterated ECOWAS’s zero-tolerance stance on coups, asserting that true peace requires more than mere declarations. “Sustainable stability necessitates credible, nationally-driven transitions, resilient institutions, and renewed trust between citizens and their governments,” he stated.
President Bio also addressed the escalating threats of terrorism and violent extremism on the continent, noting that Africa accounted for the highest number of terrorism-related deaths globally in the past year. He reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s commitment to leading discussions at the United Nations Security Council, focusing on pressing issues such as small arms proliferation and conflict-induced hunger. “Peace cannot be enforced by bullets alone. It must be nurtured through inclusion, opportunity, justice, and a state that the people trust,” he emphasized.
As Coordinator of the African Union Committee of Ten on UN Security Council Reform, he called for a restructuring of global governance systems to ensure fairness and legitimacy. The reform, he argued, is not merely a favor to Africa but a necessary correction of historical imbalances. He rejected partnerships that perpetuate outdated hierarchies or colonial remnants.
President Bio acknowledged the long-standing cooperation between Africa and Europe but insisted that this partnership must evolve from promises to tangible actions. He outlined several priorities for Africa, including climate resilience, digital innovation, industrialization, youth empowerment, and increased investment in energy transitions and value addition.
He reiterated Sierra Leone’s support for UN Security Council Resolution 2719, which advocates for predictable financing for African Union-led peace operations, but stressed that funding must be coupled with structural investments in Africa’s development.
In conclusion, President Bio declared, “Africa seeks partnership, not pity.” He called for collaboration rooted in dignity, sovereignty, and shared prosperity. “Our people deserve a world where dignity is non-negotiable, opportunity is accessible, and hope is a right,” he asserted. He urged leaders to prioritize cooperation over competition, law over force, and hope over fear, framing this as an opportunity to become equal partners in building a safer, more prosperous world.
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