Sierra Leone’s President Dr. Julius Maada Bio, has formally declared the “Freetown Roadmap” as Africa’s strategic blueprint for advancing long-overdue reforms to the United Nations Security Council, firmly denouncing the continent’s exclusion as “a profound historical injustice.”
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Retreat of Permanent Representatives of C-10 Member States, held on Friday 25th April, 2025 concurrently in Addis Ababa and New York, President Bio reiterated Africa’s unified demand for fair and equitable representation on the Council. As the current Coordinator of the Committee of Ten (C-10) on UN Reform, he emphasized that the continent’s growing influence in global peace and security must be matched with meaningful institutional recognition.
“This Retreat is not merely administrative,” President Bio told delegates. “It is a moment of reflection, unity, and renewed commitment to a cause that is not only African but truly global.”
He highlighted key diplomatic milestones achieved over the past year, notably Sierra Leone’s presidency of the UN Security Council in August 2024 during which, for the first time, the Council officially debated Africa’s under-representation. This momentum was strengthened by the United States’ support for two permanent seats for Africa (without the veto) and the endorsement of Africa’s concerns in the Pact for the Future.
“Recognition is welcome,” President Bio noted, “but it must lead to tangible outcomes.”
During the two-day Retreat, delegates are expected to produce three core documents: an African Union Model for a Reformed Security Council, a Strategic Roadmap, and an Aide-Mémoire to steer global advocacy efforts. President Bio urged the participants to use these tools to strengthen Africa’s push for reform with “greater coherence and persuasiveness.”
He also outlined five critical imperatives to guide the discussions: internal unity among African states, targeted diplomatic engagement, clear and consistent messaging, unwavering adherence to the Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration, and sustained high-level political advocacy. Africa, he emphasized, must be granted no fewer than two permanent seats with full rights, including the veto if it remains and at least five non-permanent seats.
“A Council stuck in the paradigms of 1945 cannot address the crises of today,” President Bio warned, urging ambassadors to amplify Africa’s call for justice on the global stage.
In a significant moment, President Bio proposed that the outputs of the Retreat be named the “Freetown Roadmap,” symbolizing Sierra Leone’s leadership and Africa’s collective resolve in the final phase of the reform process.
He concluded by reaffirming Sierra Leone’s unwavering commitment to the cause and commended the work of the C-10, the African Union Commission, and international partners supporting Africa’s position. “This Retreat marks a defining chapter in our pursuit of a reformed, just, and inclusive UN Security Council,” he declared.
