Nigeria and fellow African member states are pressing the 81st United Nations General Assembly for permanent representation on the UN Security Council, demanding at least two permanent seats with veto power for the continent. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres backed the push during his final address, stating the 15-member body must better reflect modern geopolitical realities.
Nigeria Leads Push for African Permanent Seats with Veto Powers
Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima delivered President Bola Tinubu’s national statement at the UN, calling directly for structural change within the international organization. Nigeria wants at least two permanent African seats equipped with full veto powers for as long as the veto exists, alongside five non-permanent seats for the continent.
That demand matches the African Union’s Ezulwini Consensus. Ghana’s President John Mahama reinforced the message during the assembly, stating that Security Council reform is an imperative for the legitimacy, credibility, and survival of the United Nations rather than a favor to Africa.
Did you know? The UN Security Council currently consists of five permanent members—China, France, Russia, the UK, and the US—and 10 elected non-permanent members serving two-year terms. Not a single African country holds a permanent seat, despite Africa being the subject of the majority of Chapter VII resolutions.
The Structural Hurdle: Why Reform Stalled Since 2008
Intergovernmental negotiations launched in 2008 have stalled repeatedly over the Council’s size, categories of membership, and the veto question. Amending the UN Charter requires approval by two-thirds of the General Assembly and ratification by two-thirds of UN members, including all five permanent members.
Professor Ibrahim Gambari, a former Nigerian foreign minister and former UN permanent representative, told Al Jazeera that the status quo resists alteration because the current permanent members enjoy unelected privileges. According to Gambari, the five permanent members hold sole authority over the selection of the UN Secretary-General and refuse to relinquish their positioning.
Weighing Strategic Influence and the Veto Debate
Dr Fola Aina, a political scientist at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, noted that securing permanent status would elevate Nigeria’s global diplomatic influence. A permanent seat gives Africa a continuous voice in international security decisions while allowing Nigeria to consolidate its position as a regional middle power during an era of strategic competition.
Beyond Nigeria, nations like Egypt and South Africa have also pursued permanent representation. However, the African Union has not yet selected specific countries to occupy the proposed seats, maintaining that the continental body should determine the representative nations once seats are granted.
Pro Tip for Researchers: When analyzing UN reform proposals, distinguish between the African Union’s Ezulwini Consensus—which demands full veto privileges for new permanent members—and proposals that offer permanent seats without the veto, which African governments argue would maintain the existing global power imbalance.
Day-to-Day Operations and the Question of Penholdership
Gambari pointed out that the current permanent members assign themselves the role of penholders, which rarely allows elected non-permanent African countries to initiate draft resolutions affecting their own region.
Favour Aniezi, a Nigerian creative and youth advocate, emphasized that representation is about shaping decisions rather than merely attending meetings. She stated that Africa must have a voice with the weight to influence how challenges are addressed rather than just being present when global institutions discuss them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why doesn’t Africa have a permanent seat on the UN Security Council?
Africa has no permanent seat because the current permanent members—China, France, Russia, the UK, and the US—have held their positions since 1945, and any structural change requires a UN Charter amendment ratified by two-thirds of member states, including all five permanent members.
How many seats is Africa demanding on the Security Council?
The African Union and member states like Nigeria are calling for at least two permanent seats with veto powers, along with five non-permanent seats on an expanded Council.
What is the Ezulwini Consensus?
The Ezulwini Consensus is the African Union’s common position on UN reform, which demands that any permanent African members receive the same rights and privileges as existing permanent members, including the veto power.
Which African countries are vying for permanent seats?
Nigeria, Egypt, and South Africa have actively pursued permanent representation, though the African Union maintains that it will determine which specific countries should occupy the seats once granted.
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