Sierra Leoneans should hold their heads high and be proud of their country’s achievement at the heart of the international system, President Julius Maada Bio has said, following the country’s elevation to the top decision-making organ in the United Nations.
Sierra Leone was on Tuesday elected to the UN Security Council to represent the African region in the Non-Permanent Category. The West African country was elected alongside Algeria as two of Africa’s three representatives in the most influential global body.
The two were among six countries that vied for five non-permanent seats that will become vacant on 31st December when the term of Albania, Brazil, Gabon, Ghana and the United Arab Emirates come to an end.
The other elected countries are Guyana, Republic of Korea and Slovenia, representing Asia-Pacific, Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean.
All five new members of the UNSC will officially assume their seats in January 2024, serving for a two-year period.
It is the first time Sierra Leone has been elected to the UNSC after 52 years, and the second time since 1970 – 1971 when it last served in the body.
“Our return to the UN Security Council is a generational accomplishment and a testament to my SLPP Government’s transformation of Sierra Leone’s international reputation and standing and our immense foreign policy gains over the past 5 years,” Bio said in a statement released via twitter.
He added: “Our presence on the UN Security Council represents our unique success as a democratic and peaceful country of resilience and unbounded optimism. One that successfully transitioned from war to peace while working in partnership with the United Nations. A country no longer defined by the stigma of the past. A beacon of hope and fortitude. A place of great belief that the future will be better, more just and more peaceful because of the investments we are making today in an inclusive and sustainable future.”
The UNSC is one of six organs of the UN and it has the primary responsibility of maintaining international peace and security.
Five of the members of the Council – China, France, Russia, United Kingdom and United States – have permanent status. The group collectively known as the P5 each wields the power to veto a resolution.
The remaining 10 members are elected to serve on a rotational two-year, non-consecutive terms, without veto power.
But the seats in the non-permanent category are allocated per region. Africa has three, which are currently occupied by Mozambique, Ghana and Gabon.
The General Assembly comprises 193 UN Member States. According to a press statement from the UN, 192 of those voted on Tuesday.
Voting, as is tradition, was conducted by secret ballot. Each candidates required a two-thirds majority, or 128 votes, even if they ran uncontested, as it was the case of the African countries.
Slovenia beat Belarus in the race for Eastern Europe, receiving 153 votes versus 38, while Algeria, Guyana, Sierra Leone and the Republic of Korea ran unopposed.
When they assume office in January, the five newly elected countries will join Ecuador, Japan, Malta, Mozambique and Switzerland as non-permanent members of the Council.
Sierra Leone launched the bid for the seat in May last year.
President Bio in his statement on Tuesday said the country’s candidacy was anchored on the theme of “Partnership, Multilateralism and Representative Approach to Sustained Global Peace and Security,” noting that Sierra Leone was elected by an overwhelming majority of the United Nations General Assembly, running as an endorsed candidate of the African Union.
The Sierra Leonean leader praised fellow African countries for their support, saying that “Sierra Leone’s success is Africa’s success.” He also praised other UN member states for their “support and trust in the people and Government of Sierra Leone under my leadership.”
The development comes as the country gears up for general elections scheduled for June 24. President Bio is seeking re-election for a second and final five-year term.
