Fatima Babih, EdD
In a blatant act of nepotism, Julius Maada Bio, the illegitimate president of Sierra Leone, appointed his daughter, Agnes Bio, as an alternate representative to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). Before this appointment, Agnes Bio has been holding the position of Adviser & Liaison Officer of Multilateral Affairs in her father’s government, at the Sierra Leone Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation since Julius Bio came into power in 2018 to present. Her new appointment at the UNSC already raises serious concerns about Julius Bio’s rampant corruption, but a closer look into the appointment suggests a darker reality: potential diplomatic cover for international drug trafficking and money laundering.
Julius Bio’s decision to place his inexperienced daughter in a strategic diplomatic role raises serious concerns about governance in Sierra Leone. The UN Security Council is the world’s most powerful body on global peace and security, and yet Agnes Bio, who has no known experience in diplomacy or international relations, has been given a seat at that table. This appointment is nothing more than a strategic move by Julius Bio to place loyal family members in key positions for personal and financial gain.
Why Is Agnes Bio at the UN?
Agnes Bio’s appointment has drawn significant attention after Reuters recently reported that she may be romantically involved with Europe’s most wanted drug trafficker, Jos Leijdekkers, also known as ‘Bolle Jos.’ He is one of the most dangerous figures in Europe’s cocaine trade and is on the run from Dutch and European authorities. Could Agnes Bio’s appointment be a calculated move to provide Bolle Jos with diplomatic immunity, posing a serious threat to international security?
Reports indicate that Bolle Jos has been living in Sierra Leone for at least six months, protected by high-ranking officials within the Bio government. Mrs. Fatima Jabbie Bio, the stepmother of Agnes Bio, leaked video footage from a family church service on January 1, 2025, in Tihun, Julius Bio’s home village. The video shows Bolle Jos seated behind Julius Bio and his wife, with Agnes Bio beside Bolle Jos. Sources suggest that Agnes Bio may even be married to Bolle Jos, further deepening suspicions about their alliance.
Is the Agnes Bio Foundation A Front for Money Laundering?
Adding another layer to this high-stakes international scandal, Agnes Bio runs the Agnes Bio Foundation, a charitable organization in Sierra Leone. A deep dive into the finances of the Agnes Bio Foundation may uncover any potential money laundering activities. Charitable organizations have long been used to appropriate and ‘clean’ illicit funds, allowing criminals to move millions undetected.
Following the footsteps of her stepmother, Mrs. Fatima Bio, who is well known in Sierra Leone for running the Maada and Fatima Bio Foundation as a means of embezzling public and donor funds, Agnes Bio is suspected of running her foundation for money laundering. With her father in power and UN diplomatic status shielding her from scrutiny, could the Agnes Bio Foundation be a key part of Bolle Jos drug money laundering network?
With her diplomatic title, Agnes Bio can travel freely across borders with diplomatic immunity. She can conduct financial transactions under the protection of state authority and shield Bolle Jos from direct scrutiny, making it easier for him to evade international law enforcement.
This raises a serious question: Has Sierra Leone’s UN seat been hijacked for criminal purposes, potentially damaging the country’s international reputation and relationships?
A Pattern of Corruption and Bio’s Family Ties to Crime
This is not the first time the Bio family and government have been linked to crime and corruption. Audit reports have linked Julius Bio’s inner circle, including his wife, Fatima Jabbie Bio, to missing state funds and questionable financial transactions. Most key government institutions, including intelligence agencies, ports, and financial bodies, are managed by Bio’s close family members and associates.
Most Sierra Leoneans believe that Julius Bio’s niece, Admire Bio, is the drug queen responsible for the proliferation of the deadly Kush drug epidemic in the country.
In a recent incident, Sierra Leone’s ambassador to neighboring Guinea was declared persona non grata by the Guinean government after seven suitcases containing suspected cocaine were found in a Sierra Leone embassy vehicle. This latest revelation raises serious questions about whether Julius Bio may be using state institutions, including diplomatic channels, to protect and advance illicit operations.
At this point, the UN should urgently launch an investigation into Sierra Leone’s diplomatic appointments. Independent investigations must be conducted into Agnes Bio’s appointment and her relationship with Jos Leijdekkers to ensure the integrity of the UN Security Council.
References
One of Europe’s most-wanted drug traffickers living in Sierra Leone, say Dutch prosecutors
Exclusive: European cocaine kingpin has high level protection in Sierra Leone-sources
Suitcases of ‘cocaine’ found in Sierra Leone embassy vehicle
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