The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is set to discuss Africa’s representation on the international body on August 12.
This announcement was made on Thursday by Sierra Leone’s permanent representative to the UN, Michael Imran Kanu, ahead of his country’s forthcoming presidency of the Security Council in August.
“We’re pursuing the presidency with a discussion or debate on the reform of the Security Council, the structural composition, but with a focus on African historical injustice,” he said. “This is to ensure that there is an equitable geographical distribution that is the principle of the UN Charter.”
Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio intends to chair the meeting. The speakers are expected to include UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, UN General Assembly President Dennis Francis, and a representative from civil society.
Currently, three African countries – Sierra Leone, Algeria, and Mozambique – are represented on the Security Council.
The UNSC comprises 15 member countries, including five permanent members – Russia, China, the US, the UK and France – and ten non-permanent members that are elected for two-year terms.
Antonio Guterres has previously stated that the majority of UN member states acknowledge the need for Security Council reform. “There is not a single permanent member from Africa in the Security Council. Undoubtedly, it will be very difficult to change this, but we must start with something on which consensus can be reached,” he said.
In July, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov emphasized that any expansion of the Security Council should include states from Asia, Africa, and Latin America, rather than increasing the number of Western countries.
“The current imbalance in the Security Council, where Western countries dominate, must be rectified,” he said.
The African Union became a permanent member of the G20 last year.