By: Saidu Jalloh
President Julius Maada Bio has reaffirmed his commitment to respecting Sierra Leone’s constitutional term limit, declaring that he will leave office at the end of his legally prescribed tenure.
“As the leader regarded as the Father of Democracy in my country, I will respect the term limit in our national constitution,” President Bio stated.
He made the declaration while participating in a fireside chat at UNSTOPPABLE AFRICA 2026, where he became the first African Head of State to kick-start this year’s programme.
President Bio’s remarks on the constitutional term limit came as he also called for a fundamental shift in Africa’s approach to its mineral resources, urging African countries to process and transform their minerals on the continent instead of continuing to extract and export them in raw form.
He said Africa’s vast mineral wealth should serve as a foundation for industrialisation, economic transformation and inclusive development.
According to President Bio, expanding mineral processing and manufacturing within Africa would promote value addition, strengthen national economies and create meaningful employment opportunities, particularly for the continent’s growing youth population.
He also called for increased investment in infrastructure across key sectors, stressing that improved infrastructure is essential to unlocking Africa’s productive potential and supporting sustainable economic growth.
“Africa must move beyond the extraction and export of raw materials. We must process and transform our minerals on the continent, while investing in the infrastructure needed to drive value addition, strengthen our economies, and create meaningful jobs and opportunities for our young people,” President Bio stated.
Following the fireside chat, President Bio witnessed the high-level opening ceremony of UNSTOPPABLE AFRICA 2026, which brought together United Nations leaders, former African presidents, prominent African business leaders and representatives of leading financial institutions.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and Chairperson of the African Union Commission Mahmoud Ali Youssouf delivered addresses during the opening ceremony, highlighting African leadership, global partnerships and increased investment in the continent’s development.
This year’s UNSTOPPABLE AFRICA is being held under the theme, “Powering Business, Scaling Economies, Shaping the Future.” The event is organised by the United Nations Global Compact and convened by the United Nations and the African Union.