President Julius Maada Bio has called on world leaders to prioritize conflict prevention and address the root causes of wars, warning that millions of people across the world continue to suffer the devastating consequences of delayed decisions and inadequate action to prevent conflict.
President Bio made the call while delivering the keynote address at the high-level opening ceremony of the inaugural Geneva Peace Forum in Geneva, Switzerland, on Monday, October 12, 2026, under the theme “Choose Peace.”
The Sierra Leonean leader highlighted the devastating impact of ongoing conflicts in Sudan, the Sahel region, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the Middle East and Ukraine, stressing that millions of people continue to endure the consequences of violence, instability and prolonged crises.
He noted that while the international community had become increasingly experienced in responding to the aftermath of wars, greater determination was needed to prevent conflicts from emerging in the first place.
“We have become adept at managing the aftermath of war, but now we must demonstrate the same resolve in preventing its roots,” President Bio said.
His remarks underscored the need for a shift in global peace and security efforts, urging leaders and international institutions to move beyond responding to humanitarian emergencies and instead invest more decisively in preventing the conditions that lead to violence.
The President’s message also highlighted the importance of timely political decisions, sustained diplomatic engagement and collective responsibility in addressing the underlying causes of instability. His argument was that lasting peace requires deliberate action before disagreements escalate into armed conflict and communities are forced to bear the consequences.
The Geneva Peace Forum, which runs from October 12 to 15, 2026, brings together representatives of governments, international organizations, civil society and academia to examine practical approaches to conflict prevention, mediation and sustainable peacebuilding.
The inaugural forum is being held under the theme “Choose Peace,” which calls for renewed commitment to dialogue over confrontation, cooperation over division, and prevention over crisis response.
President Bio’s participation places Sierra Leone’s leadership within the wider international discussion on peace and security, drawing attention to the importance of collective efforts to prevent conflict and strengthen peaceful approaches to resolving disputes.
As conflicts continue to affect communities across several regions, his address called for a more proactive approach from the international community, emphasizing that preventing war must receive the same level of commitment, resources and urgency as managing its consequences.
The central message of his address was that peace must be pursued through deliberate decisions and sustained action, rather than treated as an outcome to be considered only after violence has erupted.