African Governments Demand More Representation In The UN Security Council

African Governments have reaffirmed their demand for two permanent seats and about five non-permanent seats in the United Nations (UN) Security Council.
In their submissions during an Informal Plenary meeting of the General Assembly on equitable representation in the membership of the Security Council, several African countries and other friendly nations backed the calls for more representation of the 54-nation continent in the Security Council.
Zambia’s permanent representative to the UN Dr Mwaba Kasese-Bota, said the African proposal sought to redress the historical injustice to the continent through the Security Council composition and processes.
“It is the position of the African Group that there should be expansion in both the permanent and non-permanent categories with the new permanent members exercising all privileges and obligations that go with permanency tenure,” Dr Kasese- Bota said.
She said in her submission to the Council that despite Africa being subject to 70 percent of the Security Council’s decisions, the continent did not have permanent representatives.
Dr Kasese-Bota who called for change of the status quo however said Africa exercises flexibility on issues of maintaining or abolishing the veto for all permanent members of the Council.
She said Africa was opposed to any piecemeal approach but comprehensive style.
And Botswana’s representative to the UN Charles Ntwaagae said Africa remained committed to reforming the Security Council to make it more representative, more accountable, more democratic and inclusive in its composition and method of work.
“The identification of the candidate countries to occupy the Permanent Seats should be left to the wisdom of African leaders to decide on,” Ambassador Ntwaagae said.
And Coordinator of the C-10 Group negotiating on behalf of the African Group, Ambassador Shekou Touray, of Sierra Leone said support for the African Common position continued to receive support in the continent’s quest to claim permanent membership in the Security Council and address the historical under-representation.
Ambassador Touray said the UN Security Council was the principal decision-making organ in matters relating to international peace and security.
Currently the UN Security Council is composed of five permanent members being China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States of America and 10 non-permanent members of which only South Africa and Togo are from Africa which has the largest number of UN members.

Zambianstar

Posted by Admin on April 15, 2012. Filed under AROUND AFRICA. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

11 Responses to African Governments Demand More Representation In The UN Security Council

Manolo

April 15, 2012 at 12:11 pm

Africa should be given the respect it deserves. imagine UN imposes decisions on us!
GUN

April 15, 2012 at 12:29 pm

African representaves should learn to stand up and voice out when still in office,we are economicaly poor but we have a lot of wise leaders who lack confidence because of poverty,why is Koffi Annan more active when he is nolonger SG of the UN?
ntc

April 15, 2012 at 2:51 pm

This is long overdue. No wonder why the NATO mandate to enforce the no fly zone in Libya was over stretched. They started bombing Gaddaf’s military bases and compounds which was beyond their mandate. When this happened no one objected especially the African countries. Most of the resolutions by the Security Council Affect Africa, so why not be represented. He who feels it knows it better.
Nandibo Mpoosepo

April 15, 2012 at 3:56 pm

Fighting for the right cause, however I wish Dr. Kasese-Botha was commenting on matters to do with her career as a medical doctor. The problem with most of our Zambian doctors is that they are satisfied with being called Dr and do not bother about other achievements in their fields. I doubt she’ll be confident to treat anyone when her tour of duty is over.
mwisho kaps

April 16, 2012 at 8:23 am

The fact that we cant stand on our own in so many issues as african, western world wil continue ruling us. They murdered Sadam, Kardaff in a cold blood and they call us Human Rights violetors. Yes we are bcoz we have no power to resist their pressure on us, hence giving them our own copper on their desired price. Shame on Africa..
RYX

April 16, 2012 at 8:34 am

Good idea Africa. Go Africa.
Lucas phd mwelwa

April 16, 2012 at 8:45 am

Yes! And we want rights to make Weapons of Mass Destraction as wel! Y shud usa b th only mandated country when they infact use our uranium from Congo DR? Stand up Africa
Uko

April 16, 2012 at 11:00 am

Good call! Keep going
braintzer

April 17, 2012 at 2:52 pm

Am almost developing sincere hatred against our African leader. We are abused to much on our resources. We need brave leaders, these guys will never be soft on us, after all they know they can only survive with a link to Africa. Africa has composed a lot of songs (policies) for 5 decade to deal poverty, yet more Poverty. The solution is just to Break the link and silence. I for 1 go for United states of Africa. Gaddafi had a genuine agenda despite some personal attachment to t.
Musonda

April 18, 2012 at 8:11 am

Why what for exactly? Untill we clean up our countries of the blatant corruption and some poverty who is listening? My point exactly we are not capable of taking the world stage because we are too selfish and heartless.@NANDIBO MPOOSEPO you are so right… Our doctors are more interested in being called doctors rather than be what they trained as, shame on all Zed doctors! I am sick and tired of them complaining about not being able to carry out jobs without
Musonda

April 18, 2012 at 8:15 am

Why what for exactly? Untill we clean up our countries of the blatant corruption and some poverty who is listening? My point exactly we are not capable of taking the world stage because we are too selfish and heartless.@NANDIBO MPOOSEPO you are so right… Our doctors are more interested in being called doctors rather than be what they trained as, shame on all Zed doctors! I am sick and tired of them complaining about not being able to carry out jobs without proper resourses but are quick to set up shoddy clinics. Their incompetence led to the death of my beloved mother, I will never forget.