African Union Chair and Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani stated that Africa is counting on BRICS countries for support in obtaining permanent membership in the UN Security Council.
Speaking at the “Expanded BRICS+” meeting during the BRICS Leaders Summit in Kazan, Russia, Ghazouani highlighted that the delays in achieving sustainable development goals and the current inadequacies in addressing serious global security, economic, and environmental challenges stem from political and economic imbalances in the international system.
He emphasized the need for Africa to foster a new dynamic of multilateral cooperation, international solidarity, and assistance. For this to happen, he argued, the financial and political rules of international governance must be reformulated.
Ghazouani pointed out that Africa’s ability to leverage development opportunities and unlock its growth potential is hindered by debt issues. He also noted that Africa’s weak representation in multilateral financial institutions has led to urgent development needs—particularly in infrastructure, technology transfer, and education—not being prioritized on the international agenda.
He called for the establishment of a new development finance agreement that ensures equitable access to financing aligned with the priorities of least developed countries.
Ghazouani underscored the importance of granting Africa permanent membership in the UN Security Council to ensure its voice is heard and its priorities are considered globally, expressing trust in BRICS countries for this support.