In a recent announcement, the Sierra Leonean government lauded the illegitimate president Julius Maada Bio’s impending presidency of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for August 2024 as an outstanding and rare achievement. But this position should not be misconstrued as a personal accolade or a signal of international endorsement for Bio’s autocratic leadership.
It is imperative to clarify that the UNSC Presidency is procedural, rotating monthly among the Council’s members based on alphabetical order. It does not acknowledge governance excellence or imply approval of the ruling administration’s policies.
The true state of Sierra Leone under Bio’s leadership is grim. The economy is in shambles, with most citizens’ basic needs unmet. According to the World Food Program (WFP), 82% of Sierra Leoneans go to bed hungry. This is a tragic reflection of the rampant government corruption, mismanagement of the country’s economy, and failure to prioritize the well-being of its people.
The situation is exacerbated by a lack of electricity, leaving the nation literally and metaphorically in darkness. Hospitals struggle without electricity, leading to preventable deaths, including of newborns and pregnant women. A damning indictment of a collapsing healthcare system.
Beyond these systemic failures, the human rights situation under Julius Bio’s regime has deteriorated since 2018.
Extrajudicial killings and the imprisonment of opposition members have become disturbingly common in Sierra Leone. In a chilling speech recently, Julius Bio threatened that any citizen who dares to protest against his government will be met with bullets. Proudly referencing his deadly crackdown on protesters in August 2022, he emphasized that those who have tried before did not live to tell the story.
Such statements are a blatant affront to democratic principles and the rule of law, highlighting a regime that rules by fear rather than the people’s consent.
The narrative pushed by the Bio regime, portraying the UNSC presidency as an endorsement of Bio’s leadership, is misleading. The position is determined by the rotation among member states, not by merit or democratic values. Thus, while the government touts this as a significant diplomatic victory, it is crucial for the Sierra Leonean public to understand that it does not show any commendation of the country’s leadership or current state of affairs.
The people’s focus must remain on holding Julius Bio and his regime accountable for the ongoing socioeconomic and human rights crises.
The international community’s attention must be directed towards the suffering of the Sierra Leonean people under an increasingly autocratic regime.
The UNSC presidency, in this context, is nothing more than a procedural formality, and it must not distract from the pressing issues facing the nation.
As Sierra Leone approaches this temporary moment on the international stage, it is vital for its citizens and the world to scrutinize the Bio regime’s actions and the reality of life in Sierra Leone. The presidency of the UNSC will come and go, but the urgent need for genuine leadership and reform in the country remains critical.
Let’s not be swayed by ceremonial titles and instead focus on the substantive challenges that must be addressed, like making the people’s votes count for the true betterment of our Beloved nation.
MAMA SALONE ~ Lioness of the West Coast 