President Dr. Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone engaged in significant talks with President Abdelmadjid Tebboune of Algeria in Algiers on Wednesday, January 3, 2023. The discussions revolved around Sierra Leone’s new role as one of the non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and the shared commitment to global peace.
As Sierra Leone commences its two-year tenure on the UNSC, the primary objective remains the promotion of global peace and security. President Bio emphasized the importance of collaboration with Algeria, especially in light of both countries’ concurrent presence on the Security Council.
A pivotal point of their discussion was Sierra Leone’s active coordination of the C10, advocating for the reform of the UNSC. President Bio expressed readiness to work closely with Algeria on this front, acknowledging the challenges faced by the world and the region at large.
The meeting further underscored the historical bilateral ties between Sierra Leone and Algeria. Both leaders emphasized their commitment to deepen this relationship, exploring avenues for trade, social interaction, and cultural exchange to benefit their respective nations. Their mutual interest in addressing regional and global issues through collaboration was a key highlight of their talks.
President Bio extended gratitude to President Tebboune for the invitation and reaffirmed their joint commitment to contributing significantly to peace initiatives both regionally and globally through enhanced cooperation.
During the visit to the El Mouradia Palace in Algiers, President Bio outlined plans to foster cooperation in education, energy, agriculture, fisheries, and military matters through the 3rd Joint Commission Cooperation (JCC). Additionally, both leaders agreed to establish embassies in each other’s countries to strengthen people-to-people engagement.
The imperative of promoting Africa’s Common Position on UNSC reform, as outlined in the Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration, was a shared objective between Sierra Leone and Algeria. Both nations, now Non-Permanent Members of the UNSC, aim to leverage their two-year tenure to advance Africa’s Common Position within the Security Council.
