Ruto Chides UN for Sidelining Africa, Demands Security Council Reform

Kenyan President William Ruto on Tuesday accused the United Nations of sidelining Africa by denying it a permanent voice on the Security Council and said the world body risks losing credibility unless it reflects today’s global realities.

“Africa’s exclusion is not only unacceptable, unfair and grossly unjust; it also undermines the very credibility of the United Nations,” Ruto told the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in New York. “You cannot claim to be the United Nations while disregarding the voice of 54 nations.”

 

He said Africa remains the only continent without a permanent seat on the Security Council, even though African issues frequently dominate the Council’s agenda and the continent contributes heavily to UN peacekeeping operations.

He urged member states to adopt the Common African Position, which calls for two permanent seats with full rights, including the veto, and two additional non-permanent seats for Africa.

“Reforming the Security Council is not a favour to Africa; it is a necessity for the UN’s own survival,” Ruto said. “If the UN is to remain relevant in this century, it must reflect today’s realities, not the post-war power arrangements of 1945.”

 

The Kenyan leader used the UN-backed Multinational Security Support mission in Haiti, led by Kenya, as an example of African states stepping up to fill global security gaps.

He said the force was underfunded and operating at less than 40 percent of its authorised strength, highlighting what he described as a lack of equitable burden-sharing.

Ruto’s remarks add to a long-running campaign by African nations for Security Council reform, which would require agreement from two-thirds of the General Assembly and ratification by all five permanent Council members.

So far, major powers have shown little willingness to give up privileges they have held since the UN was founded.

“The time for action is now,” Ruto said. “Our demand is legitimate, non-negotiable and just.”

gandae@businessdayafrica.org