Michael Imran Kanu, SJD

Amb. & PR of Sierra Leone to the UN; VP ICC Assembly of States Parties; Member, LTC of the In’t Seabed Authority; President, UN Security Council (Aug24, Nov25)

[Michael Imran Kanu, SJD @MichaelKanuSL]

Deeply honoured by the confidence of #BMS9 and Member States in electing me as Chair of the Open-Ended Technical Expert Group #OETEG on SALW.

I thank Ambassador James Larsson @AustraliaUN of Australia, Chair of BMS9 for his kind words and leadership of BMS9.

Established by UNGA resolution 79/40, the OETEG will support the full and effective implementation of the @UN Programme of Action #PoA and the International Tracing Instrument #ITI, and develop recommendations on emerging challenges and opportunities arising from advances in SALW manufacturing, technology and design.

Our work starts today, which can be followed via UN WebTV - https://t.co/59RS6loj1s

[Michael Imran Kanu, SJD @MichaelKanuSL]

Sierra Leone congratulates 🇦🇹 Austria, 🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan, 🇵🇹 Portugal, 🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago, and 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe on their election as non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council for the 2027–2028 term.

Having concluded our own historic 2024–2025 tenure on the Security Council at the end of December 2025, Sierra Leone fully appreciates the immense responsibility and privilege that come with serving on this principal organ of the United Nations.

We wish the incoming members every success in advancing the cause of international peace and security, multilateral cooperation, and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.

[United Nations @UN]

Five new non-permanent members have been elected to the UN Security Council.

Austria
Kyrgyzstan
Portugal
Trinidad and ​Tobago
Zimbabwe

The countries' two-year terms will begin on 1 January 2027.

https://t.co/GG0pBn9swn

[United Nations @UN]

Five new non-permanent members have been elected to the UN Security Council.

Austria
Kyrgyzstan
Portugal
Trinidad and ​Tobago
Zimbabwe

The countries' two-year terms will begin on 1 January 2027.

https://t.co/GG0pBn9swn

[Michael Imran Kanu, SJD @MichaelKanuSL]

Yesterday marked another grateful rotation around the sun for me. I am deeply appreciative of the kind wishes, prayers, and goodwill.

How did I spend the day? In the usual Kanu style:

✅ Delivered opening remarks, as Chair-designate of the OETEG, at the webinar on Emerging Technologies in Small Arms and Light Weapons for the States of Latin America and the Caribbean: Preparations for the Open-ended Technical Expert Group;

✅ Delivered Sierra Leone’s statement at the @UN Security Council High-level Open Debate on “Upholding the UN Charter and Strengthening the UN-Centred International System”;

✅ Delivered statement at the #UN80 Briefing by H.E. @antonioguterres, UN Secretary-General;

✅ Led informal consultations, as co-facilitator, on the 2026 ECOSOC HLPF Ministerial Declaration.

Grateful always for the opportunity to serve.

See video of the UNSC statement below.

[Michael Imran Kanu, SJD @MichaelKanuSL]

Thank you, Ambassador @adoniaayebare, for your kind words and your leadership here at the UN. The C-10 at the Ministerial level will certainly be strengthened by your deep knowledge, experience, and expertise on Security Council reform. Congratulations again dear Foreign Minister.

[Michael Imran Kanu, SJD @MichaelKanuSL]

Happy Birthday, Your Excellency @julius_maadabio!

Please accept my very best wishes for many more years of celebrations in good health, happiness, family bliss, and continued success in service to Sierra Leone, Africa, and humanity.

It is particularly inspiring that you are spending this special day with young leaders from across the continent at the African Young Leaders at the Julius Maada Bio Leadership Colloquium, with Day One dedicated to the Leaders Convergence 2026. Your life of service, steadfast commitment to democracy, trust in young people with leadership responsibilities, and personal courage continue to inspire a generation across Africa and beyond.

Happy Birthday once again, Your Excellency, and best wishes always!

[Julius Maada Bio @julius_maadabio]

Celebrating another incredible year, I am filled with joy and gratitude to God for guiding me this far and for all the amazing opportunities along the way.

A huge thank you to my wife Fatima and my family for their unwavering love through the years. I also deeply appreciate the people of Sierra Leone for your prayers and steadfast support that keep me going!

[Julius Maada Bio @julius_maadabio]

Happy International Workers' Day! We celebrate the unwavering dedication, resilience, and hard work of workers. Your efforts are shaping our communities and driving our nation's progress. We salute YOU!
#MayDay #InternationalWorkersDay #LaborDay2026

[ECA @ECA_OFFICIAL]

At #ARFSD12, Executive Secretary @claverGatete met with @MichaelKanuSL @SierraLeoneUN, co-facilitating the consultative process for the 2026 UN High-level Political Forum Declaration, lauding his engagement. #SustainableDevelopment

[Michael Imran Kanu, SJD @MichaelKanuSL]

Happy Independence Day to His Excellency President @julius_maadabio, and to the Government and People of Sierra Leone.

Thank you, Your Excellency, for the compelling message and your clarion call to national unity, action and purpose.

To a peaceful, united, stable, and prosperous “Land that we love, our Sierra Leone”.

@SierraLeoneUN

[Julius Maada Bio @julius_maadabio]

Happy Independence Day!

[Michael Imran Kanu, SJD @MichaelKanuSL]

Link to the keynote: https://t.co/nAafWr3h0E

[Michael Imran Kanu, SJD @MichaelKanuSL]

As the American Society of International Law @asilorg convenes from 22–25 April 2026 for its 120th Annual Meeting under the theme “Advancing and Defending the Rule of Law,”

I am honoured to have been invited to deliver the Assembly Keynote today - 23 April 2026 on the theme.

https://t.co/K8u142Alxr

[Michael Imran Kanu, SJD @MichaelKanuSL]

@RichardGowan1 @asilorg Thank you!

[KingdomNL at UN @KingdomNL_UN]

What does an African model for a reformed Security Council look like?

#IGN co-chairs, PRs #KingdomNL & @KuwaitMissionUN, welcomed the presentation of the African Group’s model for the #IGN, by PR @SierraLeoneUN. This is another important step towards a consolidated model.

[Kuwait Mission to the UN 🇰🇼 @KuwaitMissionUN]

#IGN Co-Chairs Ambassadors Tareq Albanai of #Kuwait and Lise Gregoire-van Haaren of #KingdomNL welcomed the presentation of the African model by Sierra Leone, in its capacity as Coordinator of the C-10, at the IGN.

This important step advances progress toward a consolidated model, in line with Action 40 of the Pact for the Future.

🇰🇼🇳🇱🇺🇳

[African Union Mission to the UN @AfricanUnionUN]

The #AfricanReformModel on @UN Security Council Reform was formally presented today at the Intergovernmental Negotiations (#IGN) Structured Dialogue, the 1st comprehensive reform proposal submitted to the IGN by a regional group.
Presented by Ambassador @MichaelKanuSL , PR of @SierraLeoneUN 🇸🇱 , Coordinator of the @_AfricanUnion C-10, the Model received substantive engagement from delegations.

Africa has done what the Pact for the Future asked. The membership must now respond.
#SecurityCouncilReform #UN80 #Africa

[Michael Imran Kanu, SJD @MichaelKanuSL]

A profound honour, on behalf of the C-10 Coordinator H.E. President @julius_maadabio, to present the African Model on @UN Security Council Reform at the Structured Dialogue of the General Assembly’s Intergovernmental Negotiations (#IGN).

Endorsed at the highest political level by the @_AfricanUnion Assembly, the African Model is not new, it is the consolidated expression of decades of principled advocacy under the Common African Position as articulated in the #EzulwiniConsensus and #SirteDeclaration.

For too long, Africa has been central to the work of the Security Council, yet excluded from its permanent category of membership. The historical injustice is no longer tenable, politically, morally, or institutionally.

The African Model sets out a comprehensive pathway for reform across all clusters: expansion in both permanent and non-permanent categories, equitable regional representation, a more democratic and transparent Council, and a principled position on the veto, if it exists, it must be extended to all permanent members, including Africa.

The Pact for the Future reaffirmed what Africa has long maintained: that Africa must be treated as a special case and priority. The task before us now is to translate that commitment into an outcome.

Africa stands ready, united, prepared, and engaged, to move this process from rhetoric to results, from process to progress, and from historical imbalance to equitable representation.

The time for decisive reform is now.

@SierraLeoneUN

[Julius Maada Bio @julius_maadabio]

Today, President Faye and I witnessed the signing of a cooperation treaty on mining and energy between Sierra Leone and Senegal.

This marks a strategic milestone in strengthening our bilateral relations and expanding opportunities within the extractive and energy sectors for both our nations.

[Michael Imran Kanu, SJD @MichaelKanuSL]

On Monday, 20 April 2026, the #AfricanReformModel on @UN Security Council Reform will be presented during the Intergovernmental Negotiations (#IGN) Structured Dialogue (CR2, 10:00–13:00 & 15:00–18:00).

This marks an important step in a long and principled journey toward reforming the Security Council and rectifying the historic injustice against Africa.

The Model, endorsed by African Heads of State and Government at the 39th @_AfricanUnion Assembly, follows the report of the C-10 Coordinator, H.E. President @julius_maadabio, and reflects Africa’s unified and legitimate aspirations.

🔗 https://t.co/S0vjwImSD2

#UNSCReform #CommonAfricanPosition #EzulwiniConcensus #SirteDeclaration #C10

[Michael Imran Kanu, SJD @MichaelKanuSL]

Great pleasure to collaborate with @africa_amani on this policy paper, following my participation in the High-Level pre-#AUSummit Policy Dialogue on “The role of the A3+: Insights from Sierra Leone’s UN Security Council Membership.”

A timely brief reflecting on Sierra Leone’s (2024-2025) tenure on the @UN Security Council, and the evolving role of the A3+ in shaping more coherent, principled, and strategic African engagement in global peace and security.

#A3Plus #UNSC #Africa #Multilateralism

@SierraLeoneUN

[Amani Africa @africa_amani]

Sierra Leone's 2024 - 2025 UN Security Council Tenure and Africa's Recalibration in a Retreating International Law-Based Order
https://t.co/XUEXgELmCd