 "United Nations Security Council. File Image / Reuters")
During a high-level debate titled “Addressing the historical injustice and enhancing Africa’s effective representation in the UN Security Council,” the UK, delegations from Africa and the UN secretary-general António Guterres called for constructive reforms in the decades-old international body. One of the major things on their agenda was demanding the continent’s permanent representation in the UNSC.
While giving his arguments over the matter, the UN chief emphasised that the current composition of the UNSC reflected the balance of power at the end of World War II and has failed to keep pace with a changing world. “In 1945, most of today’s African countries were still under colonial rule and had no voice in international affairs,” Guterres asserted in the meeting held on Monday.
“We cannot accept that the world’s preeminent peace and security body lacks a permanent voice for a continent of well over a billion people…nor can we accept that Africa’s views are undervalued on questions of peace and security, both on the continent and around the world," he added.
UK comes supports the African cause
The appeal gained momentum when one of the permanent members of the UNSC, i.e. the UK joined the call. Ray Collins, UK’s Minister for Africa and the UN said that providing a permanent seat to Africa is a matter of “urgency”.
Impact Shorts
More Shorts“For these institutions to represent the world of today, they must be as effective as they can be. So, we will work tirelessly with our allies and partners to strengthen them. For this Council, that means expanding our membership in both categories, to include permanent African representation as a matter of urgency,” the British diplomat said in his remarks.
He also raised the crisis in Sudan, “The UK is proud to be working alongside our African partners on issues that are at the forefront of the Council’s agenda,” Collins noted. “This includes Sudan, where we seek a political solution to end the devastating manmade crisis which has now resulted in famine in the country,” he furthered.
Africa speaks for itself
One of the prominent representatives speaking for Africa was Dr Sithembile Mbete, who is a lecturer in the Department of Political Sciences at the University of Pretoria. She went on to call for “no less than 2 permanent seats” for Africa at the UNSC along with the right to veto. “Africa is permanently on the menu but Africans do not have a permanent seat at the table,” she said in her powerful address.
Interestingly, Julius Maada Bio, the President of Sierra Leone was overseeing the debate as the President of the United Nations Security Council. He called Africa’s lack of representation in the council a “historical injustice”. “Today, I speak as a representative of a continent long underrepresented in global decision-making. The UN Security Council’s structure is stuck in history—its composition is unjust and undermines its legitimacy,” he said in the Monday meeting.
“Africa, with 1.3 billion people and 28% of UN membership, remains grossly underrepresented in the Security Council. This is a profound historical injustice that must be addressed. The call for reform is irrefutable,” he added.
It is pertinent to note that countries like India and Brazil have been demanding permanent seats at the UNSC as well. Hence, it will be interesting to see whether the council will be more open to reform after hearing these arguments.