UNGA 81: Guterres Demands Permanent African Seats on Security Council

NEW YORK CITY — UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated it is “unjust and indefensible” that the Security Council still lacks permanent African representation.

He made the remarks on Tuesday during the high-level General Debate of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 81) in New York City.

“The Security Council was designed in the aftermath of World War II,” Guterres said. “The world has fundamentally changed since then, a change that is far from reflected in the Security Council.”

He emphasized that Africa is the most glaring omission of this outdated structure.

“When the UN was founded, most of Africa was still under colonial rule,” Guterres added. “Today, Africa still has no permanent representation on the Council. A 21st-century Security Council without permanent African seats is unjust and indefensible. This must change.”

The African Union has long campaigned for structural reform, repeatedly demanding two permanent seats alongside additional rotating, non-permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council.

Guterres’ address opened the annual meeting, which has brought together leaders and representatives from roughly 130 of the 193 member states. This year’s assembly is centered around the theme: ‘Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations That Delivers for All.’