Ruto Renews Africa's Push For a Permanent UN Security Council Seat
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Photo: president.go.ke
Kenyan President William Ruto used this week's UN General Assembly session to renew Africa's long-standing demand for a permanent seat on the Security Council, arguing that the continent's 54 member states are shut out of decisions that affect them most.
Addressing the 81st General Assembly on September 23, Ruto noted that Africa makes up more than a quarter of the Assembly's membership yet holds none of the Council's permanent seats. "The equality proclaimed in this Assembly ends at the doors of the Security Council," he said, recalling that when the UN was founded 81 years ago, roughly 750 million people were still living under colonial rule and only four African nations took part in the founding conference. He also pointed to the wider financial system, saying developing countries pay interest rates two to four times higher than wealthy nations and spend more on debt service than on health or education.
Formal talks on Security Council reform have run since 2009 without resolution, though Ruto pointed to the Council's 1963 expansion from 11 to 15 seats as proof change is possible. No vote or timeline has been set, so for now Africa's seat remains an aspiration restated at each UN General Assembly rather than a change in the works.