The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) the most potent body in charge of ensuring global peace and security has recently made big announcement to include two African countries to have permanent seat.
The UNSC which currently consists of five permanent members with veto powers and 10 non-permanent members representative of the diverse regions of the world is being criticized because of lack of credibility.
Apart from those five countries the latter group does not possess veto powers. The council having the highest power including passing binding resolutions on member states, ability to impose sanction, authorize use of force against countries and others lack credibility.
Since its establishment the council is being criticized because of lack of inclusivity and the credibility of the Security Council has been steadily eroding.
Recently, the U.S. declared major announcement through its Ambassador to the United Nations (UN), Linda Thomas-Greenfield.
Accordingly, the U.S. proposed two African countries to have permanent seat at the UNSC without veto power.
Institute of Foreign Affairs (IFA) Researcher Shimellis Hailu told The Ethiopian Herald that for the past many years Africans have been demanding permanent seats in the Security Council, the most powerful body in the UN; however the effort to reform the council has been fruitless.
“The primary objective of the organization is to ensure collective security involving all countries across the world.”
The recent proposal to include two African countries to have permanent seat at the UNSC is commendable. But the proposal by the U.S. still lacks granting Africa countries to have veto power which is making the Security Council unfair, he stated.
He further stated that the proposal is commendable and Africa needs to have full right just like the other five permanent members. The two African countries must have veto power. “Abandoning veto power means they decide on African issues without African voice which is blatant disrespect and diplomatic failure. Accordingly it’s unfair to decide on African issues on behalf of Africans.
Therefore, The AU needs to have clear stance on the issue and push for Africans to have veto power at the council. It is unfair for Africans have permanent seat at the Security Council without veto power which lacks fairness and further erodes credibility of the council, he noted.
Shimelis further stated that being a permanent member of the UNSC without veto power is just being observer in your own issue without having a say.
Commending the proposal by the U.S., he said that the Security Council needs to grant Africa a veto power unless it’s worthless for Africans making Africa an observer in African issue. The UN needs to live up to its name and needs to be common platforms so as to ensure global inclusiveness.
Speaking at the recent UN Summit held in New York, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia Ambassador Taye Atske Selassie called on the UN Security Council to carry out its functions and preserve its authority and to respond to the quest for representation by Africa.Africa is the only regional group with no permanent seat in the UNSC. This is the missing puzzle piece of multilateralism and collective security. The reform of UNSC should address years of dashed hopes and aspirations for equality, he stated.
Commenting on the U.S. Proposal Former African Union Ambassador to the U.S. Arikana Chihombori said that it is a step in the right direction but if Africa is going to become a permanent member of the UNSC they must have full right just like the other five permanent members which means they must have veto power. “Inviting Africa to the table and then asking them to remain mute is an insult to African leaders and peoples.”
The U.S. must push for Africans to take the issue to the finish line. Africa must has two permanent seats at the UNSC with full veto power, nothing less is acceptable. The UN is not only about five countries and it’s so unfair, she stressed.
BY HAILE DEMEKE
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD WEDNESDAY 25 SEPTEMBER 2024
