At today’s Ministerial Meeting on the Reform of the UN Security Council, held on the margins of the Africa–France Summit in Nairobi, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, reaffirmed Africa’s united & principled position on UN Security Council reform.

The Chairperson underscored that “Africa is not asking for a favour; Africa is demanding the correction of a historical injustice,” stressing that the continent can no longer remain excluded from permanent representation in the Council despite its demographic, political, & economic weight.

Guided by the Ezulwini Consensus & the Sirte Declaration,he said Africa continues to call for no fewer than two permanent seats with full prerogatives, including the veto while it exists, & five non-permanent seats in an expanded Council.

Chairperson Youssouf welcomed the support of France, Kenya, & Sierra Leone in advancing the African Model, & called for stronger political coordination, strategic alliances, & concrete action to transform growing international consensus into meaningful reform. “The credibility & legitimacy of the Security Council depend on its ability to reflect the realities of today’s world, not the geopolitical order of 1945,” he stated.

He further noted that the AU’s permanent membership in the G20 has already demonstrated that global governance institutions can evolve to become more representative, inclusive, & responsive to contemporary realities.