UN Chief Calls for Permanent Security Council Seat for Africa in Historic Reform Appeal
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has made a powerful call for Africa to be granted a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, arguing that the current structure reflects outdated post-World War II realities and fails to represent the contemporary global landscape.
The call for reform was echoed by several key UN officials during a special debate convened by Sierra Leone, highlighting the pressing need to correct historical injustices.
In his address, Guterres emphasized the necessity of updating the Security Council to mirror the world as it exists today, rather than the world of 1945 when much of Africa was still under colonial rule. “The world has changed since 1945,” Guterres stated. “But the composition of the Council, despite a few changes, has not kept pace.”
Currently, the Security Council’s five permanent members—China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States—hold significant influence, including the power of veto. Africa, despite being home to over a billion people and facing many of the world’s most pressing security challenges, remains without permanent representation on the council.
The African Union has long advocated for the continent to have two permanent seats on the Security Council, along with two additional non-permanent seats. Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio, who played a pivotal role in organizing the debate, made a compelling case for this demand.
“The time for half-measures and incremental progress is over. Africa must be heard, and its demands for justice and equity must be met,” Bio asserted.
The UN Security Council plays a crucial role in global peace and security, with the authority to authorize peacekeeping missions, impose sanctions, and determine the UN’s response to conflicts. Despite this, Africa has been historically under-represented in these decisions, while being disproportionately affected by the challenges the Council addresses.
Dennis Francis, the president of the UN General Assembly, supported Guterres’ call for reform, underscoring that the absence of permanent African representation is a glaring oversight in the body’s structure.
Guterres further highlighted that nearly half of all UN peacekeeping operations are in Africa, with 40% of UN peacekeepers being African, yet the continent lacks a permanent voice in the council.
Guterres argued that the inclusion of Africa as a permanent member is not just a matter of justice but a strategic imperative that would enhance global acceptance of the Council’s decisions.
“Africa was under-represented at the UN Security Council and international financial institutions but over-represented in the very challenges these structures are designed to address,” he said, noting that the continent’s resources, vital to the global economy, have often fueled conflicts.
The UN chief concluded by stressing that reforming the Security Council to include Africa as a permanent member would align the body more closely with the contributions and needs of the continent, ultimately benefiting both Africa and the world.
Source: BBC News Africa
