In the present climate, the world is trying to establish a more inclusive and fairer environment for its people. Unfortunately, major global threats are testing the existing international order with nations pushing for new orders. This gained traction and top global blocs have come into scrutiny internationally.
One of the gigantic global organizations, the United Nations (UN) has been considered as the place where every nation is represented and participates in global activities. Adversely, the organization has never gone through any major reforms or introduced any new ways of doing its business that meet the notion of fair representation.
As the organ is orchestrating various global issues and rules different global missions, there are still some bold criticisms of its system. It is the fact that the UN’s highest organ, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), consists of 15 member nations, five with VETO power, and another10 non-permanent members, five of which are elected each year by the General Assembly for a two-year term, has ultimate power in the UN decision process.
However, those five nations with VETO power and some other non-permanent countries do not have the potential to represent all the countries in the world. The system neglects not only nations around the world, but even continents like Africa, with more than 1.4 billion people, do not have a permanent place in the power party.
In recent times, some members of the UN and the UNSC have slept on the issue and come up with the supportive idea that the UN must be reformed and there must also be room for the unrepresented. Such positive feedback is crucial especially for nations of Africa as they had previously been blocked to be represented.
Being known for the organization of the world, the UN should have some appealing grounds to establish a way for every nation to represent itself and its interests permanently. If that is hard to achieve, the UN should still put some nations from every continent to represent permanently and reflect the interest of that particular landmass.
On one of the most unfavored continents, African leaders have started to express their desire to see their continent permanently represented in that high table of the world. For a number of reasons, leaving more than a billion people unrepresented makes an organ unfair. A system like the current one also lowers its credibility whenever it talks about equality and inclusion.
In addition to the African continent, other continents and numerous nations that are usually known as the Global South have also raised the same question of fair representation in the UNSC. Ruling and deciding the fate of more than 190 countries with a handful of powerful nations, the issue of reforming the UN is timely.
As a founding member, Ethiopia has taken the front runner to advocate true reform in the UN. Ethiopia, like any other unrepresented nation in the UNSC, has been affected by the decisions made by some. If the UNSC has representatives from every corner of the world, maybe, Ethiopia might have the chance to represent itself and defend its interests. Ethiopia’s story is shared by many other countries around the globe.
Accordingly, on the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79) held recently, a delegation led by Foreign Affairs Minister Taye Atske Selassie reflected that Ethiopia’s intention regarding the urgency to reform the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and its working methods.
In his keynote speech at the event, Foreign Affairs Minister Taye Atske Selassie said the reform of the Security Council is not only about rectifying the injustice done to Africa but also about the credibility of the Council itself.
“The impacts of Africa’s exclusion on the Security Council’s inability to discharge its cardinal responsibilities manifest in its disproportionate focus on internal affairs of African Affairs,” Taye underlined.
According to him, the council’s lukewarm attitude toward regional solutions and the implementation of measures detached from reality on the ground are the results of Africa’s nonrepresentation.
Thus, the Foreign Minister urged the United Nations to prioritize Africa’s representation, adding: “We, therefore, call on members to commit to prioritizing Africa’s representation in both categories of membership of the UN Security Council with all rights and prerogatives as articulated under Africa’s common position.”
He also stressed that there is no shortcut or half solution to this long-standing quest for equality. Explaining Ethiopia’s role as one of the 51 founding members of the United Nations, Taye noted that his country is a strong proponent of effective multilateralism, centered on the United Nations.
Ethiopia also views with grave concern the challenges the United Nations faces in discharging its role in peace and security and social-economic development.
Nevertheless, ensuring the readiness and capability of the United Nations to resolve global challenges has been a generational quest, he revealed. For him, the globe is faced with persistent peace and security challenges across the globe.
“There is a devastating existential threat emanating from the arms race, extreme poverty, inequality, and climate change at the same time global commitment to the sustainable development goals is receding, and the debt crisis in developing countries is worsening.”
Furthermore, the Minister stated that our constrained ability to manage the emerging multipolar world carries the risk of undermining multilateralism.
“It is our view that collective security will be realized if states are able to exercise their authority and carry out their responsibilities to safeguard their national security,” he noted. The United Nations should be at the center of efforts to resolve global peace and security challenges, Taye urged.
He also called for greater economic and security cooperation among member States, which is pivotal to empowering national institutions. The United Nations should play its role by demonstrating impartiality, independence, competence, and credibility among all its members, FM Taye stated.
To wrap up, in order to survive the upcoming challenges of the world, such international organizations must think of reforming their systems. A structure that was operational 70-plus years ago must need grease on its wheels to function more and build its trust. Reforming the UNSC and other international organs is a matter that does not need any further delay. Every member must stand by the unrepresented ones and support them to be presented permanently and fairly with some power.
BY DANIEL ALEMAYEHU
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD WEDNESDAY 2 OCTOBER 2024
