South Africa has renewed its call for permanent African representation on the UN Security Council, with International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola delivering a strong message at the 81st United Nations General Assembly. Lamola emphasized the need for urgent reform of the UN Security Council, citing the significant underrepresentation of African nations in global governance. He noted that Africa, home to nearly one-fifth of the world's population, accounts for more than a quarter of UN member states.
Lamola's address aligns with the outcomes of the recent BRICS Summit, held in New Delhi, where leaders emphasized the need for reform in global governance and multilateralism. The New Delhi Declaration, released after the summit, highlighted collective efforts to reform international organizations, including the UN Security Council, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the World Trade Organisation. The declaration recognized the legitimate aspirations of African countries, as outlined in the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration.
The Ezulwini Consensus, a key document outlining African aspirations for UN reform, calls for permanent seats for Africa in the Security Council, with all the prerogatives of permanent membership. Lamola reiterated South Africa's firm support for the Ezulwini Consensus, stating that permanent seats for Africa are long overdue. He emphasized that restoring trust in multilateralism will not happen without meaningful reform of global governance, principally the UN Security Council.
International relations and political analyst Gideon Chitanga noted that Lamola's speech aligns with the BRICS New Delhi Declaration by advocating for equal representation for African nations across post-WWII institutions. Chitanga stressed that African nations' underrepresentation in multilateral institutions stems primarily from major powers seeking to preserve their influence and retain decision-making authority. He highlighted the fear within major institutions that African countries could sway decisions away from the West due to historical contradictions.
Chitanga explained that this fear is rooted in the desire of major powers to maintain their influence and control over global governance. He noted that African countries are increasingly claiming autonomous decision-making and crafting policies that do not necessarily cohere with or follow the direction chosen by the US or other countries from the Global North. This, he stressed, is about exercising independence and national and continental sovereignty.
The push for UN reform is driven by the growing economic influence and population of developing countries, including those in Africa. BRICS' growing gross domestic product, population, and economic influence give member states leverage to push for reforms in key multilateral institutions. Chitanga noted that as the world changes, the emergence of developing powers gives African countries more leverage to achieve critical multilateral reforms.
Lamola's call for permanent African representation on the UN Security Council has been met with support from various quarters. He emphasized that if the future belongs to young people, then a continent that will be home to one in four of the world's youth by 2030 deserves a bigger seat at the table. With 70% of UN Security Council resolutions concerning conflicts on the African continent over the past decade, Lamola stressed that Africa's relegation to the margins of global decision-making must end.
Key points
- South Africa's International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola calls for permanent African representation on the UN Security Council.
- The push for UN reform is driven by the growing economic influence and population of developing countries.
- African nations' underrepresentation in multilateral institutions stems primarily from major powers seeking to preserve their influence and retain decision-making authority.
