President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria, Kenyan President William Ruto, and United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres have urged for a fundamental restructuring of the United Nations Security Council. The call was made during the General Debate of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Tinubu emphasized the need for a radical reorganization of the UN, starting with the reconstitution of the UNSC to grant Africa permanent seats.
Tinubu demanded at least two permanent seats for Africa, including full rights, responsibilities, and veto power, along with five non-permanent seats. He stated that Africa cannot continue to fill the Council's agenda while remaining absent from its permanent membership. Kenyan President Ruto echoed similar sentiments, stressing that Africa's exclusion from permanent representation, despite accounting for over a quarter of the assembly's membership, is unfair and inequitable.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres noted that Africa's absence from the UNSC permanent membership is unjust and indefensible. He emphasized the need for reform to reflect today's world, with the legitimacy and effectiveness that current challenges demand. The UNSC currently consists of 15 members: five permanent members and 10 non-permanent members elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms.
The five permanent members hold veto power over substantive resolutions, allowing any one of them to block adoption of a draft resolution. Africa is represented on a non-permanent basis. The current arrangement does not reflect the regional blocs in the UN, with Africa having 54 member states, more than a quarter of the UN General Assembly, but no permanent voice in the Security Council.
The African Union has for years pushed for reform of the Security Council, lamenting the under-representation of the continent in the body responsible for international peace and security. The AU has demanded at least two permanent seats on the Council, with full privileges, including veto power, and five non-permanent seats. Nigeria has been at the forefront of this agitation, citing fair and equitable representation in the Council.
Nigeria's contributions to the UN, particularly in peacekeeping and enforcement operations, ensure stability in the West African sub-region and the African continent. The country has the critical mass of population, economy, geography, military strength, and other indices that accord prestige to nations in international relations. Therefore, it is fair that Nigeria is given a permanent seat in the Council to represent the views of the continent.
However, while the call for Africa's inclusion in the UNSC is right and timely, the continent must address its internal challenges, such as insecurity, corruption, poverty, and poor human rights records. Africa's leadership must provide templates for good governance and development, and discourage the sit-tight culture among some leaders. With a population of 1,591,996,619, Africa accounts for roughly 19.09% of the total world population and is rich in human and material resources but remains poor or dependent on other continents.
Key points
- President Bola Tinubu, Kenyan President William Ruto, and UN Secretary-General António Guterres call for UN Security Council reform.
- Africa demands at least two permanent seats on the UNSC, with full privileges, including veto power.
- Nigeria's contributions to the UN and its indices make it a strong candidate for a permanent seat in the Council.
