By Alpha Abu
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reasserted the country’s candidacy for a non- permanent seat on the UN Security Council (UNSC), and that the election will take place in June 2023, and not 2022.
An update from the editorial office of the ministry said the country’s election bid is for the period 2024-2025. It highlighted the level of support the country has got from key member bodies in the continent.
It cited the unanimous endorsement of Sierra Leone’s bid by the African Union (AU) at its 39th ordinary session executive council meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The body endorsed the country as the sole candidate from West Africa.
Also the highest decision making body of the regional bloc ECOWAS, the Heads of State and Government of the Authority had confirmed support for Sierra Leone.
Outside the continent among some Carribean and South American countries, Sierra Leone’s candidacy has attracted an encouraging level of approval and support, according to foreign affairs officials.
The latest statement from the foreign affairs ministry came in the wake of social media reports that the country has lost its bid for the UNSC seat.
On Monday 9th May 2022, Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio formally launched his country’s UN Security Council bid at State House in Freetown.
President Bio and Foreign Affairs Minister, Professor David Francis at the launch spoke how Sierra Leone was now making a statement that it can no longer be defined by its past. Sierra Leone last sat on the council some 51 years ago.
The theme for Sierra Leone’s candidacy is “Partnership, Multilateralism and Representative Approach to Sustained Global Peace and Security”.
The 10 member non -permanent members of the council help oversee the UN’s peacekeeping efforts around the world.
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