African Leaders Renew Call for Permanent UN Security Council Seats

[Yesha]

African leaders have renewed calls for permanent representation on the United Nations Security Council, with Zimbabwe, Nigeria and Kenya among countries pushing for reforms during the 81st UN General Assembly in New York.​

The African Union has long called for at least two permanent seats for Africa, with the same rights and responsibilities as existing permanent members, including veto powers for as long as the veto remains. The AU also wants five additional non-permanent seats. (Vanguard News)

Addressing UNGA81, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, through Vice President Kashim Shettima, said the current structure of the Security Council no longer reflected today's world.

“The world of 2026 cannot remain captive to the distribution of power in 1945. Africa cannot continue to fill the Council’s agenda while remaining absent from its permanent membership.”

Tinubu called for at least two permanent African seats, with full rights and responsibilities, including veto power for as long as the veto exists. (Vanguard News)

Kenyan President William Ruto also used his address to highlight Africa's exclusion from permanent membership.

“Africa has 54 member states, more than a quarter of this assembly, yet no permanent voice in the body entrusted with the primary responsibility of international peace and security.”

Ruto added:

“We are frequently the subject of its decisions, permanently discussed, yet permanently excluded.”

He argued that the Council was created in a very different global environment and said its structure had not kept pace with changes in the world. (Africanews)

Zimbabwe backs the African position​

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has also backed a stronger African voice at the Security Council.

Speaking at UNGA81, Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe would support measures to strengthen African representation and called for stronger African participation in international peace and security matters. (EWN)

Zimbabwe is set to serve as an elected member of the Security Council from 2027 to 2028, giving Harare a platform to advance issues affecting the continent during its two-year term.

Guterres backs reform​

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has also called for changes to the Council, specifically highlighting Africa's continued absence from permanent membership.

In his UNGA81 address, Guterres said:

“A twenty-first century Security Council without permanent African seats is unjust and indefensible. This must change.”

He said the Council was created after the Second World War, but the global balance of power has changed significantly since then. (Channels Television)

Guterres had previously made a similar argument to African leaders, saying: “This is 2026 – not 1946.” He described the absence of permanent African seats as “indefensible.” (United Nations)

Why the issue matters​

The Security Council has 15 members. China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States are permanent members and have veto powers, while 10 other countries are elected for two-year terms.

Africa currently has no permanent seat, despite having 54 UN member states and being heavily affected by Security Council decisions involving conflict, sanctions and peacekeeping.

The AU's position, contained in the Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration, is that Africa should have two permanent seats and five non-permanent seats on an expanded Council. (Vanguard News)

However, reform requires changes to the UN Charter and agreement among member states, meaning the calls at UNGA81 do not by themselves create new permanent seats.

The renewed push nevertheless places African representation at the centre of this year's debate over the future structure of the United Nations.

 

[Retired]

Tengeneza nyumbani kwanza mtoe democracy na haki kwa watu wenu kabla ya kutafuta yaliyo mbali.