Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Egypt has renewed calls for comprehensive reform of the United Nations Security Council, urging the international community to address what it described as a “historic injustice” against Africa stemming from the continent’s continued exclusion from permanent membership on the Council.
Speaking in Cairo, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty stressed the need for a full and integrated reform of the Security Council that reflects Africa’s collective position, without fragmenting the key principles outlined in the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration. Both documents serve as the foundation of Africa’s unified stance on UN reform.
Abdelatty made the remarks during a meeting with Michael Imran Kanu, Sierra Leone’s permanent representative to the United Nations and chair of the African Union’s Committee of Ten, which is tasked with advancing Africa’s position on Security Council reform in intergovernmental negotiations at the UN.
The Egyptian foreign minister underscored the fairness of Africa’s demands, arguing that the continent is entitled to two permanent seats on the Security Council with full privileges and powers, including the right of veto, in addition to five non-permanent seats in an expanded council. He said such representation would more accurately reflect Africa’s demographic weight, political influence, and growing role in maintaining international peace and security.
Abdelatty praised Sierra Leone’s leadership of the Committee of Ten, highlighting its role in defending and promoting the African position during ongoing negotiations at the United Nations. He emphasized the importance of maintaining African unity on the issue, particularly as discussions on Security Council reform remain stalled amid competing global interests.
Africa, which comprises 54 countries and a population of approximately 1.4 billion people, has never held a permanent seat on the Security Council since the United Nations was established in 1945. In contrast, the Council’s five permanent members, the United States, Russia, China, France, and the United Kingdom continue to wield veto power over its decisions, a structure critics argue reflects the geopolitical realities of the post–World War II era rather than today’s world.
The Ezulwini Consensus, adopted by the African Union in 2005, remains the cornerstone of the continent’s unified reform proposal. It calls for a minimum of two permanent seats for Africa with full rights, including veto power, and an increase in Africa’s non-permanent representation from three to five seats. The document also asserts that either the veto should be abolished entirely or extended equally to any new permanent members.
Egypt’s renewed advocacy comes amid growing global debate over the legitimacy and effectiveness of the Security Council, particularly in addressing conflicts in Africa and other regions of the Global South. African leaders argue that the absence of permanent African representation undermines the Council’s credibility and limits its ability to respond equitably to international crises.
Cairo says it will continue to work closely with African partners to push for reform that corrects what it views as a longstanding imbalance in the international system and ensures Africa’s voice is fully represented in global decision-making.
