AU Chief Demands Permanent UN Security Council Seats for Africa

Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, has declared that Africa’s exclusion from permanent representation on the UN Security Council constitutes a historical injustice. Speaking at a ministerial meeting on UNSC reform in Nairobi, Kenya, Youssouf emphasized that the continent is not seeking special favors but demanding a correction to the geopolitical imbalance established in 1945. The African Union’s position, rooted in the Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration, calls for at least two permanent seats with full veto powers and five additional non-permanent seats. This renewed push for reform aligns with recent statements from leaders like Kenyan President William Ruto and Congolese President Denis Sassou Nguesso, who argue the current council fails to reflect modern global realities. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has also supported giving Africa a permanent voice. Additionally, Russia has backed the expansion to include more African, Asian, and Latin American states, arguing the council must reflect a multipolar world rather than its colonial past. The article highlights the growing international pressure to restructure the UNSC to better represent the Global South.