UNGA, September 24th 2025- President Julius Maada Bio has been conferred the prestigious title of Eminent Person for the G7+ countries, a coalition of fragile and conflict-affected states, during a high-level summit held on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA-80) in New York.
The landmark event, co-hosted by the Republic of Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, brought together an influential mix of global and regional leaders. Among the attendees were the Presidents of Sierra Leone and the Central African Republic, the Vice President of South Sudan, Ministers and Permanent Representatives from G7+ member states, senior United Nations officials led by the Assistant Secretary-General, and representatives from civil society and the G7+ Foundation.
A key highlight of the summit was the launch of the G7+ Rapid Response Centre, a strategic initiative backed by the G7+ Foundation. The Centre is designed to provide timely support to member states facing urgent challenges such as international disputes and complex concession negotiations. It also marks the formal transition of G7+ leadership to the Solomon Islands.
Reacting to his appointment, President Bio expressed deep appreciation and reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s commitment to the coalition’s mission.
“I am deeply honored to be appointed as an Eminent Person of the G7+ countries,” he stated. “Over the past decade, our coalition has collaborated closely to support the transition of our states from fragile to developing and thriving nations, thereby strengthening our collective voice in peacebuilding and global governance reforms.”
He further acknowledged the leadership shift, adding: “As we transfer the leadership of G7+ to the Solomon Islands, we remain committed to working together diligently in accordance with our shared principles. I wish to express my sincere gratitude to Timor-Leste for their ongoing support of the G7+ Secretariat.”
President Bio’s recognition underscores Sierra Leone’s growing influence in global peacebuilding and its leadership role among nations navigating post-conflict recovery and institutional reform.
