United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has commended the leadership of Sierra Leone’s President Dr. Julius Maada Bio, highlighting his role in promoting national unity, regional cooperation and multilateral engagement.
The commendation came during a bilateral meeting between the two leaders at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on the margins of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
During the engagement, António Guterres praised Sierra Leone’s contribution during its 2024–2025 tenure as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, particularly its efforts to promote consensus and contribute to international peace and security.
The UN Secretary-General also reiterated his support for greater African representation within the Security Council and other major global institutions, including international financial bodies.
The issue of Security Council reform remains an important foreign-policy priority for Sierra Leone. President Julius Maada Bio used his address to the 81st UN General Assembly on September 22, 2026, to again call for reform of the global body and greater representation for Africa. (Office of the President of Sierra Leone)
Responding during the bilateral engagement, President Bio expressed appreciation to António Guterres for his leadership of the United Nations and his continued engagement with Sierra Leone and the African continent.
The President also acknowledged the support Sierra Leone received from the UN Secretariat during its two-year tenure on the Security Council, noting that the cooperation helped the country participate effectively in the Council’s work.
President Bio further welcomed the Secretary-General’s advocacy for a more representative Security Council and a multilateral system that gives Africa a stronger voice in international decision-making.
Discussions also touched on regional cooperation through the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). President Bio expressed appreciation for the partnership between the United Nations and ECOWAS during his chairmanship of the Authority of Heads of State and Government.
“I thank you for the strong partnership between the United Nations and ECOWAS during my chairmanship, as well as for Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s participation in our summit in Lungi,” President Bio said.
Sierra Leone has continued to promote Lungi as a centre for regional engagement, with the Government placing emphasis on economic cooperation, investment and integration alongside peace and security. The President commissioned the ECOWAS Logistics Depot and Julius Maada Bio International Conference Centre in Lungi in July 2026 as part of efforts to strengthen regional cooperation. (ECOWAS)
President Bio also informed António Guterres about Sierra Leone’s plans to host the West Africa Integration and Investment Summit in Lungi, aimed at strengthening the economic foundations of regional stability and encouraging greater investment and integration across West Africa.
Reflecting on António Guterres’s service at the United Nations, President Bio said Sierra Leone appreciated his commitment to Africa, multilateralism and vulnerable populations.
“As you approach the conclusion of your tenure, Sierra Leone will remember your commitment to multilateralism, to Africa and to the most vulnerable,” President Bio stated.
The meeting formed part of President Bio’s high-level engagements in New York, where he has been participating in bilateral discussions and international events aimed at advancing Sierra Leone’s diplomatic, economic and development priorities. (Office of the President of Sierra Leone)
