If the An American tribute giving Africa two permanent seats marks a significant advance, the question of the right of veto remains a sticking point. Michel Régis Onanga Ndiaye, Minister of Foreign Affairs responsible for sub-regional integration and Gabonese abroad, is in no doubt.
“For us Africans, it’s about getting seats on the Security Councilas permanent and non-permanent members, but also to include the exercise of the right of veto. This is a basic question. We aim for better and demand that justice be done to African states. The best way to do this is to give us the right of veto. Without this right, we believe that there is still a policy of double standards, because we will sit with the current permanent members, being sub-members without real power. What we need is not a cosmetic reform, but a deep reform of the Security Council, so that justice is done to our continent,” said the head of Gabonese diplomacy.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is campaigning to reform the institution he heads Image: Luiz Rampelotto / EuropaNewswire / photo alliance
There are 1.3 billion inhabitants in Africa
On the Ghanaian side, Rashid Pelpuo, president of the African Parliamentarians for Population and Development, shares this position by emphasizing the importance of the right of veto to make the voice of Africa heard in its direction -within the United Nations.
“The right of veto is a key element of our direct contribution and active participation in vital decisions of the United Nations. It is vital that Member States deal with this issue seriously. We do not want to be satisfied with a symbolic presence in the United Nations. General Assembly We must be at the heart of the decisions made in the Security Council, for the good of Africa.
The fact that a continent of 1.3 billion people is not represented on the Security Council reduces the role of the UN, said South African President Cyril Ramaphosa recently.
And denying the right of veto to Africa “means we will be second class citizens again“, the president of South Africa also launched.
The Security Council has 15 members: five permanent members (the United States, the United Kingdom, France, China, Russia) who have the right of veto and ten members elected for two years who represent the various sectors geographical, including three for Africa.
The upcoming negotiations will be crucial to determine if this reform will lead to real equal rights for the continent, or if it will remain an indefinite phase.
The coming weeks will be decisive as African and international diplomats continue to negotiate this essential reform.
2024-09-24 09:01:53
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