U.S. Backs Permanent African Seats on UN Security Council, Pushing for Greater Representation

• Sep 12, 2024

The United States has officially announced its support for adding two permanent seats for African countries on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), a move that could significantly amplify the continent's voice in global decision-making. U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, revealed this decision during an interview with Reuters, expressing hope that it will advance efforts toward reforming the Security Council.

Thomas-Greenfield emphasized that while the U.S. supports the creation of permanent African seats, it does not advocate expanding veto power beyond the current five permanent members: China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The five nations hold veto rights, allowing them to block resolutions, a power not extended to non-permanent members of the Council.

The UNSC is composed of 15 members—five permanent and ten non-permanent, who are elected for two-year terms. Kenya recently completed its term as a non-permanent member for 2021–2022, but no African nation has ever held a permanent seat on the council. This has long been a point of contention, particularly as Africa's population crossed the 1.5 billion mark in July 2024, according to the UN Economic Commission for Africa.

The lack of permanent African representation has been criticized during various international crises, most recently the Gaza conflict. In this situation, the U.S. used its veto power to block a resolution calling for a ceasefire, which stirred controversy, particularly among African nations. South Africa even brought the matter before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), citing concerns of potential genocide in Gaza. While the ICJ ruled that Israel must take measures to prevent genocide, Israel denied these accusations, stating that its actions were in self-defense.

The U.S. support for African seats on the UNSC could be a pivotal moment for the continent, offering the opportunity for greater influence over global decisions, particularly those that disproportionately affect Africa. Whether this proposal will garner backing from other major global powers remains uncertain, but it is a step toward addressing the longstanding imbalance in the Security Council.

If successful, the inclusion of African countries as permanent members could shift the dynamics of international governance, making the UNSC more reflective of today's global population and political landscape. For Africa, this proposal represents a chance for its voice to be heard more clearly on the world stage.