President William Ruto Speaking at the 7th Summit of the Committee of Ten Heads of State and Government on UN Security Council Reform in New York. Photo/Courtesy
By Daisy Okiring
President William Ruto has called Africa’s exclusion from the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) “unacceptable and indefensible,” urging urgent reforms to give the continent a permanent voice in global decision-making.
Speaking at the 7th Summit of the Committee of Ten Heads of State and Government on UN Security Council Reform in New York, Ruto said Africa must close ranks and rally behind the Common African Position. The policy demands at least two permanent and five non-permanent seats for Africa.
Africa’s absence questioned
Ruto warned that the UN, founded 80 years ago, risks losing credibility if it continues to sideline Africa in critical peace and security matters. He called the situation a “historic injustice” that undermines global trust in the organisation.
“Kenya will fully support this so Africa’s demands are no longer deferred,” he declared.
Responsibilities of membership
The president also reminded African leaders that permanent membership comes with responsibilities. He urged the continent to agree on a transparent framework for selecting representatives to sit on the Council.
He said Africa, home to 1.4 billion people and contributing heavily to peacekeeping missions, cannot continue to play a bystander role in shaping international security.
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Current council structure
The UNSC has 15 members, including five permanent members with veto power: China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Collectively known as the P5, they can block any substantive resolution regardless of consensus.
The other 10 seats are non-permanent and rotate every two years. In 2025, the members are Algeria, Guyana, the Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Denmark, Greece, Kuwait, Panama, and Somalia.
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Africa’s limited role
Africa currently holds three rotating seats but none of the permanent ones. This has fueled growing pressure to reform the Council’s structure.
For decades, African leaders have backed the Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration—collectively the Common African Position—demanding two permanent seats with veto powers and five non-permanent seats for the continent.
Ruto and other African heads of state argue the current UNSC structure is outdated, unjust, and must be urgently changed to reflect today’s global realities.
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