President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone called for increased African representation in the United Nations, including two permanent seats with potential veto power, during a Security Council meeting on Monday.
While chairing the session, President Bio asserted that Africa has been an “unquestionable victim” of an outdated and unbalanced Security Council structure.
“The time for half-measures and incremental progress is over. Africa must be heard, and its demands for justice and equity must be met,” Bio emphasized.
The U.N. Secretary-General has responded to similar calls, advocating for a reformed Council structure with greater African representation.
African nations are not alone in seeking more influence within the Council. Although there is widespread agreement on the need for reform, debates have stalled over how much the Council should expand, which countries should be included, and what powers they should hold.
The Security Council currently consists of 15 members, including five permanent members with veto power—China, France, Russia, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
The remaining 10 nonpermanent seats are allocated regionally, with three for African states; two each for Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Western Europe and other states; and one for Eastern Europe.