UN Secretary-General Calls for Permanent Africa Seat on Security Council

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated on Monday that there is no justification for Africa’s absence of permanent representation on the UN Security Council, Anadolu Agency reported. Guterres made these remarks during the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Heads of State and Government of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The two-day summit gathered African leaders to address critical regional issues, including peace and security, economic integration, and institutional reforms. Guterres emphasized his commitment to collaborating with the African Union and all UN member states to secure the representation Africa deserves, advocating for two permanent seats on the Security Council.

Many African leaders view the Security Council as dysfunctional and non-inclusive, having campaigned for additional seats for nearly 80 years. The summit also reviewed the African Union’s “Silencing the Guns” initiative, aimed at ending armed conflicts by 2030, and assessed its role in the G20 following its recent permanent membership. Africa, with 54 countries, represents 1.4 billion people.