Africa steps up demand for permanent seat on UN Security Council

Africa is stepping up its long-running campaign for permanent representation on the United Nations Security Council, with African leaders arguing that the current structure of global decision-making no longer reflects the realities of the modern world.

The demand has gained renewed momentum as UN member states continue negotiations on Security Council reform, with African countries maintaining that the continent must have a permanent presence in the body responsible for major decisions on international peace and security.

The African Union’s position is anchored in the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration. The bloc is calling for at least two permanent seats for Africa, with the full rights and privileges of permanent membership, including veto power for as long as the veto remains part of the Council’s structure. Africa is also seeking five additional non-permanent seats.

‘Africa cannot remain excluded’

The argument has been strengthened by the continent’s demographic and political weight. Africa accounts for more than 50 UN member states and more than a quarter of the organisation’s membership, yet none of its countries currently holds a permanent seat on the Security Council.

The African Union has described the situation as a historical imbalance, pointing out that when the UN was established in 1945, much of Africa was still under colonial rule and therefore had little or no direct participation in shaping the post-Second World War international system.

The AU Commission has repeatedly argued that the Council must evolve to better reflect contemporary geopolitical realities.

In May 2026, AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf said Africa was “not asking for a favour” but seeking to correct what he described as a historical injustice. He argued that the Council’s credibility and legitimacy depend on its ability to reflect today’s world rather than the geopolitical order of 1945.

Mahama joins the call

President John Dramani Mahama has also used Ghana’s platform at the United Nations to support reform of the Security Council and greater African representation.

The broader African position is that the continent should not merely be consulted on decisions affecting international peace and security but should have a permanent role in shaping those decisions.

Africa also points to its involvement in international peace and security efforts, including contributions to peacekeeping operations, as part of the argument for greater representation.

The African Union has therefore maintained that its demand goes beyond symbolism and is tied to the principle of equitable representation in global governance.

UN negotiations remain ongoing

The campaign comes as the UN’s intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform continue.

A June 2026 UN paper recorded broad agreement among participating states that Africa should be equitably represented in a reformed Security Council. However, member states continue to differ over the precise distribution of additional seats and other elements of reform.

The reform process has been ongoing for years, with discussions covering the number and categories of Council members, the veto, regional representation and the Council’s working methods.

For Africa, however, the central demand remains clear: permanent representation with the same rights and privileges enjoyed by the existing permanent members.

The African Union has continued to insist that the continent should determine which African countries represent it in any future permanent seats.

As negotiations continue, the question confronting the international community is whether the Security Council can be substantially reformed to reflect the geopolitical realities of the 21st century.

For African leaders, the argument is straightforward: a continent with more than 50 countries and a major role in the UN system should have a permanent voice in the organisation’s most powerful decision-making body.

The push for reform is therefore unlikely to disappear anytime soon, with Africa continuing to press for a seat — or seats — at the centre of global peace and security decisions.