Guterres Pushes Renewed Call For Permanent African UN Security Council Seats
News Updated: 14 May 2026 11:25 EAT
United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has renewed his call for urgent reform of the UN Security Council, urging that Africa be granted permanent representation in the body. He described the continent’s continued exclusion as a “historical injustice” that undermines the legitimacy of global governance.
Guterres said the current structure of the Security Council no longer reflects today’s geopolitical realities, noting that it largely mirrors the world order established in 1945 after the Second World War.
He argued that global institutions must evolve to match modern demographics, political influence, and economic shifts, stressing that Africa’s voice must be fully represented at the highest level of international decision-making.
Africa, with 54 member states and a population exceeding 1.4 billion people, remains the only major global region without permanent representation on the Security Council.
The UN Secretary-General said this exclusion weakens the Council’s credibility, particularly when it makes decisions on conflicts and crises that disproportionately affect African countries.
He has repeatedly stated that the Security Council faces a “crisis of legitimacy and effectiveness” due to its outdated composition and lack of inclusivity, according to UN statements and briefings.
Guterres emphasized that Africa was not included in the original design of the UN system in 1945, as most of the continent was still under colonial rule at the time.
He has therefore described Africa’s exclusion as a structural imbalance that continues to affect global governance and decision-making processes today.
The Secretary-General has supported reform discussions aligned with the African Union’s position under the Ezulwini Consensus, which calls for at least two permanent seats for African states on the Council.
Despite widespread agreement on the need for reform, Guterres has acknowledged that changing the Security Council remains highly complex due to political divisions among member states.
Any amendment to the UN Charter requires approval from two-thirds of the General Assembly and ratification by all five permanent members of the Security Council, each of whom holds veto power.
Under ongoing African Union discussions, countries frequently mentioned as potential contenders for permanent seats include Nigeria, South Africa, and Egypt, although no formal selection has been made.
Guterres has urged UN member states to move beyond long-standing disagreements and accelerate reform talks, warning that continued delays risk eroding trust in multilateral institutions.
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FELIX MAKONA
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