Africa’s Push for a Permanent Seat on the UN Security Council Gains Momentum
Addis Ababa – Calls for reform of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) are intensifying, with African policymakers and experts urging the international community to address the continent’s underrepresentation. The demand for a permanent African seat on the UNSC reflects a growing recognition of Africa’s crucial role in global peace and security, a role that is currently not reflected in the council’s composition.
A Historical Imbalance
The current structure of the UNSC, largely shaped by the post-World War II geopolitical landscape, has remained largely unchanged for nearly eight decades. As Ghana’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Robert Afriyie, pointed out, when the UN was founded in 1945, only a few African nations – Ethiopia, Morocco, and Liberia – were members. While the number of non-permanent seats was later increased, no permanent seats have been added since.
This has resulted in a significant imbalance. Africa now accounts for roughly 60 percent of the UNSC’s workload related to peace and security issues, yet remains the only major regional group without permanent representation. This disparity fuels the argument that equitable participation in global decision-making is long overdue.
Rising Instability and the Require for Reform
The urgency for reform is underscored by the increasing global instability. Solomon Ayele Dersso, Director of Amani Africa Media and Research Services, highlighted the surge in conflicts worldwide, reaching levels not seen since World War II. From the Sahel region to the Great Lakes area, African countries are grappling with severe humanitarian and socio-economic challenges.
Dersso questioned the continued relevance of the existing UN framework, suggesting that the legitimacy and effectiveness of the Security Council are increasingly at risk. He invoked W.B. Yeats’ poem, “The Second Coming,” to illustrate the sense of a world spiraling into chaos, where “the centre cannot hold.”
International Support for African Representation
The call for reform isn’t solely coming from within Africa. Japan, through its Ambassador to the AU, Noboru Sekiguchi, has likewise voiced strong support for addressing the historical imbalance. Sekiguchi emphasized that many issues on the Security Council’s agenda directly affect Africa and that its underrepresentation must be rectified.
Japan, alongside the G4 nations (Brazil, Germany, India, and Japan), actively supports Africa’s bid for both permanent and non-permanent representation on the council. This support highlights a growing international consensus that a more inclusive UNSC is essential for effective global governance.
What’s Next for UNSC Reform?
The 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union, which concluded in February 2026, underscored the continent’s commitment to securing a permanent seat. While the path to reform is complex and requires the support of major powers, the momentum is building. The AU PSC and the Members of the UNSC held their nineteenth Annual Joint Consultative Meeting in October 2025 to deliberate on peace and security issues, signaling ongoing dialogue.
The AU’s theme for 2026, “Ensuring sustainable water availability and safe sanitation systems to achieve the goals of Agenda 2063,” also indirectly highlights the interconnectedness of peace, security, and sustainable development – areas where a stronger African voice on the UNSC could be particularly impactful.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the G4?
A: The G4 is a group of four nations – Brazil, Germany, India, and Japan – that mutually support each other’s bids for permanent membership on the UN Security Council.
Q: Why is Africa underrepresented on the UNSC?
A: The current structure of the UNSC reflects the geopolitical realities of 1945, when only a few African nations were independent. Despite Africa’s growing importance on the global stage, its representation hasn’t been updated.
Q: What are the obstacles to UNSC reform?
A: Reforming the UNSC requires the agreement of all permanent members of the council (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States), which can be difficult to achieve due to differing national interests.
Q: What would a permanent African seat on the UNSC achieve?
A: It would deliver Africa a stronger voice in global decision-making on peace and security issues, ensuring that the continent’s perspectives are better represented.
Did you know? Africa accounts for a significant portion of the UN’s peacekeeping operations, despite lacking permanent representation on the Security Council.
Pro Tip: Stay informed about the latest developments in UNSC reform by following news from the African Union and the United Nations.
Want to learn more about Africa’s role in global affairs? Explore our other articles on international relations.
