File photo of Secretary-General António Guterres presents his annual report on the work of the Organization ahead of the opening of the General Assembly’s seventy-second general debate. UN Photo/Cia PakUnited Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres has urged the inclusion of a permanent African seat on the UN Security Council, advocating for reforms to address historical imbalances.
Guterres highlighted that the Security Council, originally shaped in 1945, no longer reflects the modern world, as Africa was largely under colonial rule at that time.
Currently, the Council’s five permanent members—China, France, Russia, the UK, and the US—continue to hold veto power, while the 10 non-permanent members do not. The African Union has long argued for two permanent and two non-permanent seats for the continent.
Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio, leading Monday’s debate, emphasized the urgency for equitable representation. “Africa must be heard; its demands for justice and equity must be met,” Bio stated.
Guterres and other UN officials, including General Assembly President Dennis Francis, stressed that the Security Council’s lack of African representation undermines its global legitimacy.
Africa’s significant contribution to UN peacekeeping efforts and its pivotal role in global resource dynamics further highlight the need for reform. Guterres asserted that aligning the Council’s composition with contemporary realities is both a moral and strategic necessity.
Source: BBC
