UN Secretary-General António Guterres has strongly advocated for Africa to be granted a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council as part of broader reforms aimed at addressing historical injustices.
The call for change comes as the Council, whose five permanent members—China, France, Russia, the UK, and the US—reflect the post-World War II power structure, faces increasing criticism for its outdated composition.
Guterres highlighted the need for the Council to evolve, noting that the world has significantly changed since 1945, yet the Council’s structure has not kept pace.
While the Council has 10 non-permanent members, these members lack the veto power held by the permanent members, leading to long-standing calls for reform.
The African Union has been vocal in pushing for the continent to have greater representation, specifically two permanent seats and two additional non-permanent seats.
The debate, convened on Monday by Sierra Leone, saw the country’s President Julius Maada Bio emphasize the urgency of these demands. “The time for half-measures and incremental progress is over. Africa must be heard, and its demands for justice and equity must be met,” he declared.
The UN Security Council plays a critical role in global peace and security, with responsibilities that include authorizing peacekeeping missions, imposing sanctions, and managing international responses to conflicts.
Yet, as Guterres pointed out, Africa remains under-represented in the Council and other global institutions, despite being central to many of the conflicts and challenges these bodies address.
Guterres underscored Africa’s significant contributions, noting that almost half of all UN peacekeeping operations are in Africa and that 40% of UN peacekeepers are African.
Despite this, the continent has yet to secure adequate representation on the Council, a failure that Guterres argues undermines both the ethics and effectiveness of the UN.
The call for reform is not only a matter of justice but a strategic necessity, according to Guterres, who stressed that a more representative Council would enhance global acceptance of its decisions, ultimately benefiting both Africa and the world. The UN was founded after World War II to prevent future conflicts, with only four African nations—Egypt, Liberia, Ethiopia, and South Africa—among its original members.
Guterres’ plea for change reflects a growing consensus that the UN’s structure must adapt to the modern geopolitical landscape, ensuring that Africa’s voice is heard on the global stage.
