African Union seeks permanent entry into the U.N. Security Council

Africa’s push for a permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council has gathered pace with the meeting in Sierra Leone of a select committee of nations tasked with forging a common regional position.

Foreign ministers and permanent representatives to the African Union and the United Nations drawn from the African Union Committee of Ten (C-10) Nations are reviewing progress in intergovernmental negotiations meant to consolidate an African position.

The member states of the African Union Committee of Ten include: Sierra Leone, Algeria, Libya, Kenya, Uganda, Namibia, Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Congo, Senegal, and Zambia. This group of nations are leading in championing Africa`s bid for a UN permanent member status as part of on-going reforms at the global organization.

The common African position on the proposed reform of the United Nations, was adopted by African leaders in Addis Ababa in 2005 “as the antidote for the historical injustice meted out to the continent.”

Among other things, it demands institutional reform at the United Nations. It notably wants Africa to be represented in all decision making organs of the United Nations, including the Security Council.

The African position also significantly asks for debt cancellation for the highly indebted countries as well as the debt reduction and cancellation for middle income indebted countries. It also includes World Trade Organization treaties, environmental issues, and the role of sanctions.

“It is an indisputable fact that Africa is grossly under-represented and unrepresented in the non-permanent and permanent categories of the Security Council respectively,” said newly re-elected Sierra Leonean president Ernest Bai Koroma.

Soruce: Africa Review