Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio emphasized that Africa's development is inseparable from global development, calling for international support while urging African nations to lead their own progress.
In an exclusive interview with China Media Group (CMG) at the UN headquarters in New York aired on Friday, Bio addressed differing views about Africa's role in solving its challenges and its need for international attention.
"They're not contradictory. They're mutually supporting each other because we live in a world and we are part of the world. So our problems cannot be treated in isolation. For the most part, some of the challenges we encounter in Africa have more exogenous influences than the internal dynamics of Africa. So we cannot deal with them in isolation. Aside from that, it is easier to deal with these problems when you have the support and solidarity of the global community that can provide certain support," said Bio.
"What we are saying or are insisting on is that Africa take a lead. We know our culture, we know our people, and we know our circumstances. But when things are designed from outside of the continent without our input, they have never fitted so well in terms of implementation. So we want to be there on the table, so that we design things, making sure that it is properly structured. It takes into account our situation, our culture, our economic circumstances, so that it fits on the ground very well and we will be happy and take responsibility and accept and acknowledge mistakes where they are made, but also make sure that whatever is designed is fit for purpose," he said.
Sierra Leonean president calls for int'l support for African-led development
