UN Calls for Reform to Include Africa in Security Council

The United Nations Secretary-General has urged the UN Security Council (UNSC) to reform its structure to include a permanent seat for Africa, highlighting the continent's significant underrepresentation. He emphasized that it is unacceptable for a body responsible for global peace and security to lack a permanent voice for over a billion Africans. Currently, the UNSC comprises five permanent members with veto power and ten non-permanent members, of which only three are allocated to African states. During a recent debate, UN General Assembly President Dennis Francis echoed these sentiments, asserting that the UNSC must reflect contemporary global realities. He criticized the current representation as inequitable and contrary to the principles of sovereign equality among states. Francis called for urgent reforms to ensure that Africa's perspectives are adequately represented in discussions on peace and security. Sierra Leone's President Julius Maada Bio reinforced the demand for two permanent and two additional non-permanent seats for Africa on the UNSC, advocating for the African Union to select its permanent representatives. He also called for the abolition of the veto power, which he believes undermines equitable representation. Experts, including Carlos Lopes from the University of Cape Town, noted that while calls for better representation are not new, the current geopolitical climate presents a unique opportunity for Africa. Lopes pointed out that Africa's increasing influence in global forums, such as the G20, reflects its growing importance and the need for a stronger voice in the UNSC.