Kenyan President William Ruto has called for permanent African representation on the UN Security Council, saying the continent remains excluded from key global decisions.
Ruto made the call during his address to the UN General Assembly in New York on Wednesday.
Africa has 54 UN member states. However, no African country holds a permanent seat on the Security Council.
Ruto said this imbalance no longer reflects today’s world.
“Africa has 54 member states, more than a quarter of this assembly, yet no permanent voice” on the body responsible for international peace and security, he said.
Ruto pushes for African representation on UN Security Council
Ruto said the Security Council was created during a very different period.
At the time, most African countries had not yet gained independence.
Since then, the global system has changed significantly. However, Ruto argued that the structure of the Security Council has not kept pace.
He said African countries are frequently affected by Security Council decisions despite having no permanent representation on the body.
The push is part of a wider African campaign to reform global institutions.
Africa seeks greater role in global decisions
African countries have pushed for Security Council reform for years.
Under the African model discussed at the UN, the continent seeks at least two permanent seats and five non-permanent seats.
The position also states that if the veto remains, African permanent members should receive the same right.
Meanwhile, South Africa has also identified Security Council reform as an important part of its UN agenda.
Guterres also calls for reform
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has also backed permanent African representation.
Speaking at the UN General Assembly this week, Guterres again highlighted Africa’s absence from the permanent membership of the Security Council.
The debate comes as pressure grows for global institutions to better reflect current political and demographic realities.
However, changing the Security Council’s membership requires agreement among UN member states.
For now, Africa continues to have elected non-permanent members on the Council but no permanent seat.