His Excellency Julius Maada Bio has attended the 63rd Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government and received congratulatory message from the United Nations Secretary-Generalโs Special Representative for West Africa and the Sahel, H.E. Leonardo Santos Simรฃo.
In his statement on behalf of the United Nations Secretary-General, H.E. Leonardo Santos Simรฃo congratulated President Bio on his re-election and thanked the Government of Sierra Leone for the successful conduct of the June 24th multi-tier elections.
During his intervention at the Heads of State session, President Bio thanked the outgoing Chair of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government and President of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, H.E General Umaro Sissoco EMBALO, for the excellent manner in which he had conducted the trust and responsibility reposed in him by the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government during his tenure.
President Bio expressed his profound appreciation for the many congratulatory messages and warm fraternal felicitations on his well-deserved re-election and seized the opportunity to formally congratulate and welcome his brother and colleague H.E Ahmed Bola Tinubu who was attending his first ECOWAS Heads of State Summit as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
President Bio also thanked his colleagues for the overwhelming support Sierra Leone received from the Community on its election to the UN-Security Council non-permanent category for the period 2024-2025. He stated, โLet me assure the Community that the resounding vote was a victory not only for Sierra Leone but also for ECOWAS and the entire Continent of Africa. We therefore commit to representing all of Africa and seeking the interest of the ECOWAS Community in particular. Together, we will promote the Common African Agenda of reforming the UN Security Council to reflect the current geopolitical realties.โ
On the political governance and security within the Community, President Bio reaffirmed his commitment to support the ECOWAS transition agenda for the restoration of democratic constitutional rule in the sister countries of Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Mali.
โExcellencies, Sierra Leone just concluded free, fair, credible and peaceful elections on the 24th June, 2023, with an overwhelming victory for me and my governing Sierra Leone Peopleโs Party (SLPP). This resounding victory provides us the unique opportunity to consolidate the progressive socio-economic development gains we have achieved over the past five years, consolidate peace and strengthen our democracy.
โFor decades, Sierra Leoneโs electoral process has stood the test of time to guarantee the constitutional rights of every eligible citizen to vote and be voted for. Following the successful conduct of our m
ulti-tier elections, Iet me convey my nationโs gratitude to Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas and the ECOWAS Election Observation Mission Team to Sierra Leone for their professionalism and diligence in observing our June 24th multi-tier elections.โ President Bio stated.
