New York, September 23, 2025: Sierra Leone’s President, His Excellency Julius Maada Bio, delivered a powerful keynote address at the Annual g7+ High-Level Summit, held on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly. The event celebrated Sierra Leone’s ten-year leadership of the g7+, a global coalition of fragile and conflict-affected states.
President Bio reflected on Sierra Leone’s transformation from a post-conflict nation to a guiding force within the g7+, stating, “We have proven that fragility is not a destiny, but a condition that can be overcome, with the right tools, trust, and time.”
Under Sierra Leone’s chairmanship, the g7+ achieved several landmark accomplishments:
- Advocacy for the New Deal for Engagement in Fragile States
- Securing Sustainable Development Goal 16 on peaceful and inclusive societies
- Attaining Observer Status at the UN General Assembly
- Delivering its first-ever statement at the UN Security Council during Sierra Leone’s 2024 presidency
President Bio commended the coalition’s commitment to fragile-to-fragile cooperation, which has supported member states through elections, peacebuilding efforts, and health emergencies. “Those who have lived in fragility are best placed to guide others out of it,” he emphasized.
Looking to the future, the President urged g7+ members to unite in tackling global challenges such as climate change, unsustainable debt, pandemics, and geopolitical tensions. He called for equitable financing mechanisms and stronger advocacy for climate justice and debt relief.
As Sierra Leone officially handed over the g7+ leadership to the Solomon Islands, President Bio expressed pride in the coalition’s progress and optimism for its continued impact. “Our scars have become strategies. Our unity has become strength. And our vision is unwavering: no country should be left behind simply because its journey began from a place of fragility,” he affirmed.
He concluded with a reaffirmation of the g7+ founding principle: “No decisions about us, without us.”
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