H.E. Julius Maada Wonie Bio

Born on 12th May 1964 in Tihun, Sogbini, Bonthe District, His Excellency Julius Maada Bio is the 5th President of the Republic of Sierra Leone. In June 2023, he was re-elected for his second term after securing victory with more than 56% of the votes. Under his leadership, Sierra Leone has made remarkable progress. He has expanded access to education for more than one million new learners through Free Quality Education Programme; enhanced energy accessibility; improved access to healthcare, increased access to water supply and made significant gains in the control of corruption. For his second term, President Bio has prioritised food security as his flagship programme. 

President Bio has ushered in significant governance reforms within Sierra Leone. He repealed a 55-year-old seditious libel law, abolished the death penalty; enacted the Gender Equality and Women Empowerment Act that guarantees 30% representation of women in governance; and enacted the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act that criminalizes marriage of anyone under the age of 18. Sierra Leone, under his guidance, secured the approval of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Board of Directors for a substantial USD$480 million Energy Compact, the largest per capita investment in the subregion by the MCC. 

On the international stage, President Bio has exhibited commendable leadership qualities. He co-chaired the Transforming Education Summit in 2022 alongside the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres. He also led as the Chair of the African Union African Peer Review Forum of Heads of State and Government. Currently, he holds the position of Chair of the African Union Committee of Ten for the Reform of the United Nations Security Council, advocating for the Common African Position laid out in the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration

Under his leadership, Sierra Leone's global standing has soared, gaining approval from 188 out of 192 United Nations member states to secure a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council after a half-century hiatus. In August 2024, President Bio presided over the United Nations Security Council and spearheaded a significant debate on the reform of the Council. Sierra Leone is also an elected member of the African Union’s Peace and Security Council (PSC) for the 2024-2026 term. 

President Bio has received numerous accolades for his exceptional leadership on both national and international stages. In 2022, he was named “African of the Year” at the 11th African Leadership Persons of the Year event. The following year, he was celebrated as “African President of the Year” during the 8th Annual London Political Summit and Awards. In 2024, the United States Foreign Policy Association awarded President Bio its prestigious Foreign Policy Association Medal at the World Leadership Forum Dinner. In February 2025, President Bio was honoured with two prestigious African continental awards: The African HeForShe Champion of the Year, 2024 and Presidential African Intelligence Award, 2024.