STATEMENT BY
H.E. KENYEH BARLAY
Minister of Planning and Economic Development of Sierra Leone and Chair of g7+ Chair of g7+
Your Excellency Jose Ramos-Horta, President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste and Special Envoy of the g7+,
Your Excellency Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste,
Your Excellency Maria Fernanda Lay, President of the National Parliament of Timor-Leste,
Your Excellency Francisco Kalbuadi Lay, Deputy Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs, and Minister of Tourism and Environment of Timor-Leste,
Your Excellency Bendito Freitas, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Timor-Leste,
Honorable Ministers from g7+ countries
Distinguished Members of the National Parliament of Timor-Leste
Your Excellency, Dr. Helder da Costa, General Secretary of g7+,
Ambassadors, Heads of Agencies, Members of Civil Society
Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen
Good morning.
It is a privilege to welcome you all to the 6th Ministerial Meeting of the g7+, where we mark 15 years of unity, resilience, and shared purpose. Today, we are gathered here not only to reflect on our journey but to forge a path forward in an increasingly complex and uncertain world.
At the outset, I extend my deepest gratitude to the government and people of Timor-Leste – the birthplace of the g7+—for your unwavering commitment to our cause. It was in this very city, in this very hall, that history was made. Timor-Leste, a nation that embodies resilience, has not only championed the g7+ but has supported it politically, morally, and financially. We owe our deepest appreciation to this island nation whose journey from conflict to peace has been a beacon of hope for all of us.
On behalf of the government and people of Sierra Leone, I extend my heartfelt gratitude for the trust you have placed in me to chair the g7+. It has been an honor and privilege for Sierra Leone to hold this responsibility for the past ten years, following the leadership of Timor-Leste and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
I am very proud that Sierra Leone has played a critical role in shaping where the g7+ is today., our capacity as chair of g7+ in ten of the fifteen years existence of the g7+ Group of Countries. A role we served diligently with successive governments and Ministers of Planning and Economic Development since 2014. We provided leadership to the g7+ group globally and today I look back with pride at what we were able to achieve as Group – Observer Status at the United Nations General assembly in December 2019 and Associate Observer to CPLP in July 2021, among many other remarkable successes. We have reached far and wide and have consolidated our position globally.
We remain committed to the ideals of g7+ and reaffirm our unwavering commitment to continue playing an even more active role in advancing the g7+ advocacy, ensuring that the voices of our nations continue to shape global policies on peacebuilding, statebuilding, and development cooperation.
I also take this opportunity to express my deep appreciation to the Permanent Missions of g7+ missions at the United Nations, for their tireless efforts in championing our agenda on the global stage. With the non-permanent membership at the UN Security Council, we will continue working with fellow members in promoting the voice of the g7+ at the UN.
Excellencies, distinguished participants, over the past 15 years, the g7+ has grown from a loose coalition to a formidable global force. Our advocacy and collective efforts have transformed how the world approaches peacebuilding, statebuilding, and development cooperation. No longer are our nations passive recipients of international decisions—we are shapers of global policies, amplifying the voices of conflict and fragility-affected states on the world stage.
Our impact is tangible. The adoption of Sustainable Development Goal 16—Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions—is a direct result of our persistent advocacy. This was not merely a policy victory but a recognition of the critical link between peace, stability, and sustainable development—an argument that was central in the Dili declaration that was adapted in this very hall. The Dili declaration led to the establishment of the New Deal for engagement in Fraile States; a groundbreaking framework that continues to be as relevant today as it was at its inception. It underscored the reality that peace is not just a prerequisite for development, it is development. The principles of country ownership, mutual accountability, and context-driven solutions remain vital in shaping how fragile states navigate their paths toward resilience and prosperity.
Furthermore, our observer status at the United Nations has provided us a formal seat at the table, allowing us to influence key global discussions and ensure that decisions affecting our countries are made with our input—not about us, without us.
But beyond policies, the g7+ has become a mechanism for real cooperation. Through Fragile-to-Fragile (F2F) collaboration, we have fostered peer learning, technical exchanges, and support mechanisms that strengthen governance. We have shown that solutions to fragility do not come from outside, they come from within.
These milestones would not have been possible without the unwavering dedication and collective efforts of our fellow g7+ members. Our strength lies in our solidarity, and together, we will continue to champion peace, stability, and sustainable development for our nations and future generations.
Despite these milestones, however, our work is far from over. The world today is vastly different from when we first came together.
We are witnessing a fragmented global order, marked by shifting geopolitical dynamics, rising conflicts, climate disasters, economic instability, and rapid advancements in artificial intelligence. The risks to our nations have only multiplied. Once again, conflict affected states such as those in the g7+ find themselves disproportionately bearing the consequences of global crises—wars we did not start, climate change we did not cause, and technological shifts we are yet to benefit from.
We must ask ourselves some hard questions:
- How can we safeguard stability in a world increasingly prone to war?
- How can we support each other in achieving peace in our countries?
- How can we ensure that global policies are conducive to our countries? and
- How can we further strengthen our unity as the g7+?
These are the questions that should guide our discussions over the next two days.
Now, more than ever, we must stand united. The g7+ was born out of necessity, forged in the fire of conflict and hardship, and strengthened by our shared vision of a peaceful future and solidarity. We must continue to be the voice of the 1.5 billion people, the architects of our own future, and the champions of peace and stability.
I therefore urge all of you to actively participate, challenge conventional thinking, and propose bold solutions during this Ministerial Meeting. The world is watching. Our people are counting on us.
Let us rise to the occasion. Thank you!
