WASHINGTON: UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for Africa to be granted a permanent seat at the UN Security Council as part of broader reforms aimed at addressing historical injustices.
The Security Council, composed of five permanent members—China, France, Russia, the UK, and the US—has long been criticized for reflecting the geopolitical landscape of the post-World War Two era, when much of Africa was still under colonial rule.
“The world has changed since 1945, yet the composition of the Council has largely remained the same,” Guterres remarked. The Security Council’s ten non-permanent members are allocated by region but lack the veto power held by the permanent members.
The African Union has consistently advocated for the continent to secure two permanent seats on the Council and an additional two non-permanent seats. On Monday, a debate convened by Sierra Leone highlighted this issue, with President Julius Maada Bio passionately arguing for Africa’s inclusion.
“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 stated.
The UN Security Council plays a crucial role in authorizing peacekeeping missions, imposing international sanctions, and determining responses to global conflicts. Both Guterres and Dennis Francis, President of the UN General Assembly, have emphasized the need for reform.
“We cannot accept that the world’s leading peace and security body lacks a permanent voice for a continent of over a billion people—28% of the UN membership,” Guterres said.
He said that Africa is underrepresented in international institutions and financial structures but disproportionately affected by the challenges these bodies are designed to address.
Guterres highlighted that Africa is often at the center of conflicts driven by global demands for its resources and that nearly half of all UN peacekeeping operations are based on the continent, with 40% of peacekeepers coming from African nations. He argued that the Security Council’s failure to adequately reflect African representation does not align with the continent’s substantial contributions and efforts.
Established after World War Two to prevent future conflicts, the UN originally included only four African nations—Egypt, Liberia, Ethiopia, and South Africa—as founding members.
