AFRICAN UNION UNION AFRICAINE UNIÃO AFRICANA UMOJA WA AFRIKA

Julius Maada Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, - Honourable Ministers of Government, - Members of the Diplomatic and Consular Corps, - Members of the Media, - Excellencies, - Ladies and Gentlemen, On behalf of the Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, His Excellence Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, it is a singular honour to be back to the motherland to participate in thi. [...] I would also like to express the gratitude of the African Union Commission to the Republic of Sierra Leone for inviting the African Union (AU) to this important event on such a timely topic. [...] The African Union continues to reaffirm its strong support for the important role Sierra Leone plays on the continent and discharging its role as a member of the AU Peace and Security Council and the United Nations Security Council in fostering peace and security. [...] They include: (1) Including lethal autonomous weapons systems in the ECOWAS Convention, (2) Developing a comprehensive continental position on lethal autonomous weapons systems, (3) the Republic of Sierra Leone leveraging its current membership of the AU Peace and Security Council and the United Nations Security Council to champion the adoption of regional, continental and global regulatory framew. [...] Let me conclude by highlighting that today’s meeting presents a chance to mobilise the region and the continent by participating in a timely conversation about setting the standards for the future use of lethal autonomous weapons systems.