President Yoweri Museveni has called for major reforms to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), demanding that Africa be allocated at least two permanent seats with veto power, along with two non-permanent seats.
President Museveni appeal was made in a statement delivered during the 6th Summit of the Committee of Ten African Union Heads of State and Government on UN Security Council Reform, which took place virtually over the weekend.
Museveni’s statement, read by Uganda’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Adonia Ayebare who emphasized the need for the United Nations to correct what he termed as “historical injustice” against Africa.
He highlighted that when the UN was established in 1945, only four African nations, Ethiopia, Liberia, Egypt, and the Union of South Africa were independent and present at the San Francisco Conference where the UN Charter and Statute of the International Court of Justice were adopted.
Today, Africa has 54 independent states, making up nearly 28% of the UN membership, a reality he said must be reflected in the Security Council’s composition.
The Committee of Ten, which has been advancing the Common African Position on UNSC reform since 2005, aims to ensure fairer representation for Africa in global decision-making.
Museveni urged the Committee of Ten African Union Heads of State and the wider African Union to remain united, cohesive, and vocal in advocating for Africa’s demands, aligning with the AU’s vision of building a stronger, more unified continent.
The summit, convened by Sierra Leone’s President Dr Julius Maada Bio, brought together Heads of State from Kenya, Equatorial Guinea, Libya, Namibia and Zambia, while Algeria, Congo Republic, and Senegal represented by their ministers.
Resolutions from the summit will inform Africa’s official stance in upcoming discussions at the United Nations General Assembly and other international forums.
