President Dr Julius Maada Bio has called on African nations to place their own interests at the centre of engagements with international partners, arguing that agreements should build skills, create jobs, strengthen local businesses, develop industries and preserve the continent’s ability to make independent decisions.
President Bio made the call during a keynote address at the John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum at Harvard Kennedy School on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, on the theme,
Addressing faculty members, students, policymakers and other participants, the President said Africa is becoming increasingly important as competition among major powers intensifies, climate change affects livelihoods, artificial intelligence transforms economies and public trust in institutions comes under pressure.
He said the growing international attention being directed towards Africa should not be mistaken for influence, stressing that natural resources do not automatically translate into prosperity and a youthful population does not necessarily guarantee economic opportunity.
According to President Bio, Africa’s future will depend largely on the choices its leaders and citizens make about governance, economic development and engagement with the rest of the world.
“For too long, the world has asked: What should we do about Africa?” he said. “This evening, I want to ask a different question, beginning with us: What will Africans do with our growing power?”
Reflecting on Sierra Leone’s political history, President Bio recalled his decision as military Head of State in 1996 to proceed with elections despite the civil war and calls from some quarters for the process to be delayed until the conflict ended.
He said the elections did not end the war but established an important principle that Sierra Leoneans should have a voice in determining who governs them, even during periods of uncertainty.
“In 1996, I handed over power as a soldier. In 2028, God willing, I will hand it over again as a democrat,” President Bio stated.
He said leadership should be measured by what remains after a leader leaves office, including the strength of institutions, opportunities available to citizens and whether younger generations are better positioned to improve their lives.
The President pointed to Human Capital Development, Free Quality School Education and the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act as measures undertaken by his administration to expand opportunities for Sierra Leoneans.
Turning to Africa’s youthful population, President Bio cautioned that the continent’s widely discussed demographic dividend could only materialize through sustained investment in education, practical skills and economies capable of creating opportunities.
He also highlighted artificial intelligence as an area in which African youths should be equipped not merely to consume technology but to develop and apply it to challenges within their societies while benefiting from the economic value it generates.
On democracy, President Bio said elections give Governments the authority to serve but public trust must continue to be earned after votes are counted.
He maintained that citizens need accessible justice, accountable institutions and fair opportunities to improve their lives, while political leaders have a responsibility to protect institutions, encourage dialogue and avoid treating political opponents as enemies when electoral outcomes are contested.
President Bio acknowledged that corruption, exclusion and unconstitutional changes of Government have damaged African societies.
Referring to the departure of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger from the Economic Community of West African States, he said the development had exposed a serious loss of confidence within the regional bloc.
He expressed the view that the door should remain open for their return, while ECOWAS must demonstrate its relevance through what it delivers for citizens and remain consistent in defending constitutional order.
A central part of President Bio’s address focused on Africa’s engagement with established and emerging global powers.
Responding to the question of whether Africa should align itself with the East or West, President Bio declared: “Africa will be pro-Africa.”
He said African Governments should assess every proposed international partnership by asking four fundamental questions: whether it builds skills; creates jobs and strengthens local businesses; helps develop industries and leaves African countries better able to make their own decisions.
The President said Governments should be prepared to negotiate better terms when projects promise quick revenue but create few local jobs or when technology agreements leave African professionals unable to maintain the systems being introduced.
He also addressed the continent’s critical minerals, arguing that if African resources are to help power the next global economy, communities across the continent should benefit through jobs, knowledge transfer and economic prosperity.
Speaking directly about relations between Africa and the United States, President Bio said the relationship has been shaped not only by Governments but also by teachers, students, entrepreneurs, researchers and public servants.
He noted that restrictions on study and travel have narrowed opportunities for exchanges, including for Sierra Leoneans, while acknowledging the right of countries to determine their own policies.
President Bio said international partnerships should instead be judged by what they produce, including opportunities for students to learn across borders, businesses to trade and industries to create jobs and value within Africa.
He further called for deeper cooperation among African countries, noting that insecurity, climate shocks and trade challenges transcend national borders.
The President cited the African Continental Free Trade Area as an important opportunity to establish a market serving more than one billion people. He said its full potential would be realized when producers can move goods across borders without unnecessary delays and businesses established in cities such as Freetown can expand throughout the continent.
He also reiterated the need for stronger African representation in global institutions, including reform of the United Nations Security Council to better reflect current global realities.
Addressing students at Harvard, President Bio encouraged future policymakers, entrepreneurs, researchers and organizational leaders to take Africa seriously, study the continent’s challenges, engage African scholars and institutions and consider who ultimately benefits from the projects they undertake.
He urged young Africans to hold their leaders to high standards and contribute their skills and integrity towards building the continent they want to inherit.
President Bio also held discussions with student leaders at Harvard University’s Center for African Studies, where he shared his vision for engaging African students at leading universities and empowering them to become the next generation of leaders in governance and the private sector.
He thanked Zoe Marks, Oppenheimer Faculty Director and Chidi Blyden, Executive Director of the Center for African Studies, for facilitating the engagement.
Concluding his address, President Bio said Africa’s choices should ultimately be assessed by their impact on ordinary people, particularly whether children can receive an education, young people can build meaningful futures and citizens can disagree with Governments without fear.
“Africa’s future will be shaped by Africans,” President Bio said. “And the measure of our success will be found in the lives of our people.”
