Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio, serving as President of the United Nations Security Council for November, has praised the Council’s adoption of Resolution 2803, describing it as a decisive move toward ending the conflict in Gaza and restoring long-term stability.
The resolution, passed on Monday, 17 November 2025, with 13 votes in favour and abstentions from China and Russia, authorizes the deployment of an International Stabilization Force (ISF) to Gaza.
It also establishes a transitional Board of Peace to oversee governance and reconstruction efforts. The framework outlines demilitarization, humanitarian recovery, and a conditional route to Palestinian statehood—explicitly excluding Hamas—while rejecting any forced displacement or prolonged Israeli reoccupation.
Speaking shortly after the vote at the UN Headquarters in New York, President Bio said Sierra Leone “fully supports” the U.S.-sponsored resolution, calling it a crucial opportunity to halt the violence and set the region on a path toward sustainable peace.
He noted that both the impartial security force and the non-political governance structure will play vital roles in protecting civilians and helping Gaza rebuild.
President Bio also applauded U.S. President Donald Trump for leading what he described as a “bold peace initiative,” while commending Egypt, Qatar, and Türkiye for their tireless mediation efforts, which contributed to securing the ceasefire and facilitating recent hostage releases.
The Sierra Leonean leader urged the international community to rally behind the Council’s decision, emphasizing the need for unity “in support of peace, security, and human dignity for the people of Gaza.”
