Egyptian President urges greater African inclusion in global decision-making.
Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, speaking at the Africa-Russia Partnership Conference in Cairo, which was attended by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, ministers from more than 50 African countries, and representatives from several regional and African organizations, stressed the need for a “more pluralistic” global order, saying: “Given the human, economic, political, and demographic weight of the African continent, the continent must play a greater role in shaping global decisions.”
In a statement read by Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Ati, he added: “Reforms are also needed in global financial institutions to ensure equal representation from the African continent.”
Meanwhile, the Associated Press reported that the African Union has been requesting at least two permanent and five non-permanent seats on the Security Council for the African continent since 2005. The African Union insists that such a move would help establish peace and stability on the continent. However, African countries have not yet reached a consensus on the mechanism for electing potential permanent representatives of the continent to the Security Council.
Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov also said in a joint press conference with his Egyptian counterpart yesterday (Saturday): “We have decided to continue coordinating our efforts in various multilateral forums, which include moving towards reforming the UN Security Council in accordance with the legitimate interests of African countries.”
According to IRNA, in 2014, the Russian Foreign Minister also announced Moscow’s support for the permanent membership of Brazil, India, and African countries in the UN Security Council.
In late September 2015, Namibian President Ntambo Nandi-Ndaitwa emphasized in a speech at the seventh meeting of the African Union Committee of 10 (AU C-10) in New York that the UN must transform in accordance with the contemporary geopolitical realities in the world.
He stated that the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations is a good time to reflect on the values and fundamental principles of this organization, adding: “The African continent deserves permanent representation in all decision-making bodies, especially those related to global peace and security.”
The calls for reform of the United Nations have come at a time when the structure of the United Nations has faced increasing criticism worldwide, with many believing that this structure reflects the power dynamics after World War II and is not very compatible with the current realities of the world.
The African continent, with 54 countries and a population of 1.4 billion, like the South American continent, has no permanent representatives on the Security Council.