- Guterres wants Africa to have a permanent seat on the UN Security Council
- The current composition of the Council has been criticized
- Guterres noted that the world has changed significantly
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for Africa to have a permanent seat on the UN Security Council as part of reforms to address historical injustices.
The current composition of the Council, with five permanent members (China, France, Russia, the UK, and the US), has been criticized for not reflecting the modern global landscape.
Guterres noted that the world has changed significantly since the Council’s establishment in 1945, but its composition has not kept pace.
The African Union has long advocated for two permanent and two non-permanent seats on the Council.
Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio emphasized the need for Africa’s voice to be heard, citing the continent’s significant contributions to UN peacekeeping operations and its growing population.
Other UN officials, including the President of the UN General Assembly, echoed the call for reform. Guterres highlighted Africa’s underrepresentation in international institutions despite being disproportionately affected by conflicts and contributing significantly to UN peacekeeping efforts.
He emphasized that reform is not only a matter of ethics and justice but also a strategic imperative to increase global acceptance of the Council’s decisions.
