Sierra Leone Pushes for African Seats in UN Security Council

Sierra Leone's President Julius Maada Bio addressed the United Nations Security Council on Monday, emphasizing Africa's urgent need for increased representation within the UN's most powerful body. Chairing a meeting focused on this issue, Bio advocated for the allocation of two permanent seats, potentially with veto power, to African nations. He described Africa as the "unquestionable victim" of an outdated and unrepresentative Security Council structure, asserting that the continent's demands for justice and equity must be acknowledged. Bio's remarks come ahead of the upcoming U.N. "Summit of the Future" and the annual General Assembly, where discussions on Security Council reform are expected to take center stage. The latest draft of the summit's "Pact for the Future" identifies Security Council reform as a priority, promising an ambitious outcome, although specific details remain pending. Bio expressed confidence that change is imminent, despite the challenges posed by existing power dynamics. With 54 countries, Africa constitutes 28% of the U.N.'s member states, yet remains underrepresented in the Security Council. The continent hosts five of the U.N.'s eleven peacekeeping operations and is home to four of the top ten troop-contributing countries. The African Union has proposed adding two elected seats, bringing the total to five, along with two permanent seats for African nations. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield echoed Bio's sentiments, stating that the current representation is "simply wrong." She highlighted the need for immediate action, urging the council to move beyond merely recognizing the problem and to implement necessary reforms.