Julius Symposium in Sierra Leone: Repositioning Africa as an Economic Power Tops the Discussions
President of Sierra Leone: Working resolutely to re-establish Africa's position as an influential global power
Written by Ziad Abdel Fattah:
The Julius Maada Bio Symposium, held in Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone, concluded with a clear emphasis on the importance of empowering youth to lead, and that Africa must be at the heart of this effort. Agenda Global.
Re-establishing Africa's position as a global power
Julius Maada Bio, President of Sierra Leone, said, “I am confident that young people will take the lead as we work resolutely to re-establish Africa’s position as an influential global power.”.
These words came as part of his closing speech at the symposium, where his political and intellectual project has recently focused on “empowering youth” and ”repositioning Africa” as an economic power.
The symposium was held at the Bentomani Conference Centre in Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone, and the second edition of the symposium lasted for two days, May 12 and 13, 2026.
The high-level symposium, which also hosted the African Youth Leaders Forum, brought together prominent leaders, policymakers and influential young people from across the continent.
The symposium, entitled “Reimagining African Leadership: Courage, Accountability and Innovation in an Age of Global Uncertainty,” focused on shaping a new leadership culture for Africa amid the growing economic, political and social challenges facing the continent.
The organizers said the aim of the event was to inspire a new generation of African leaders committed to transformative governance and sustainable development.
The guest of honor at the event was the President of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio, who led the discussions on leadership, governance and regional cooperation.
Other prominent figures expected to attend the conference include former Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland and former Malawi President Joyce Banda.
Oluwari’s participation continues to attract considerable attention in diplomatic and leadership circles following his growing influence on global platforms.
This convergence is also expected to provide a platform for networking, policy exchanges, and strategic partnerships between emerging African leaders and global stakeholders.
In another context, Ambassador Rasha Suleiman, Ambassador Egypt Sierra Leone had a fruitful meeting yesterday, Wednesday, with Dr. Musa Tifa Bayo, the head of the Immigration Department.
