By Mabinty M. Kamara
As part of Sierra Leone’s agenda during its presidency at the United Nations Security Council meeting this August, the country is set to promote the issues of Women peace and security in Africa and the world at large through debate to be held on the 7th of August this year.
The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Francess Alghali said the country has a unique experience when it comes to peace, women and security issues as a result of the 11 years civil war.
“We know the role women played in getting our peace, so we will be focusing on this with special attention on young people. We will ask countries to bring forward recommendations on how they can support the women, peace and security agenda in their countries,” he said.
The debate is part of the seven items on Sierra Leone’s agenda during its leadership of the Security Council. The session will precede a debate on the United Nations Security Council reform to be led by President Julius Maada Bio in New York on 12th August 2024.
Deputy Director of Policy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Alan Logan, said reforming the Council was one of the major pillars on which Sierra Leone built its campaign.
“Sierra Leone is leading the Security Council reform on behalf of Africa. We are asking for two permanent seats and three non-permanent seats on the Council which will make it five in total for Africa,” Logan said, adding that “We are undertaking this advocacy considering the historical injustice that the continent has faced."
Sierra Leone has been a major leader in the C-10, a conference of African leaders pushing for reform in the Security Council.
The Foreign Affairs Minister said the country would use its position to bring this debate to the floor of the Security Council and invite C-10 members to participate.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Timothy Musa Kabba, highlighted the importance of Sierra Leone’s leadership at the Security Council over the one month period in the country’s diplomatic history.
“For the first time in 53 years we are back in the Security Council. Today we are taking the Presidency of the Council. We will provide stewardship for the work of the Security Council for the next 30 days. That is a very important milestone."
Sierra Leone was first elected to the UN Security Council in 1971 and the country’s second coming would further boost the country’s standing at global level. On 6th June 2023 Sierra Leone was elected to serve in the Security Council as non- permanent member. President Bio had sought the country’s membership of that body during his first term in office.
Copyright © 2024 Politico (05/08/24)
