AU Demands Permanent UN Security Council Seats to Fix ‘Historical Injustice’
African Union Commission Chairperson H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf on Monday 11, demanded an immediate end to Africa’s exclusion from permanent representation on the UN Security Council, calling the current deadlock a "historical injustice."
Speaking at a Ministerial Meeting on the Reform of the UN Security Council held on the margins of the Africa–France Summit in Nairobi, Youssouf reaffirmed the continent's united position on fixing global governance.
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, and economic weight.
Guided by the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration, Youssouf stated that Africa continues to call for no fewer than two permanent seats with full prerogatives, including the veto while it exists, and five non-permanent seats in an expanded Council.
The Chairperson warned that the council's current structure is an outdated relic of the post-World War II era that undermines its global authority.
“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.
Youssouf welcomed the support of France, Kenya, and Sierra Leone in advancing the "African Model."
However, he urged the international community to move beyond rhetoric, calling for stronger political coordination and concrete action to transform growing consensus into meaningful reform.
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, and responsive to contemporary realities.
The push for reform comes as African leaders increase pressure on the United Nations to grant the continent a decisive voice in international peace and security matters.
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