United Nations, 13 August 2024 (TDI): Pakistan has called for rectifying historical injustices by enhancing the representation of Africa within the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) as part of the reform process to make the 15-member body more inclusive, effective, and accountable to combat the growing challenges.
Ambassador Munir Akram, permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN, told the Council that Islamabad acknowledged the historic injustice against Africa – its oppression, occupation, and exploitation – and in the structure of the UNSC.
He was speaking at a high-level debate on addressing the historical injustice and enhancing Africa’s effective representation on the UNSC, convened by Sierra Leone, the Council President for August.
The UNSC is currently composed of 5 permanent members — Britain, France, Russia, China, and the United States — and ten non-permanent members elected to serve for two years.
Pakistan, he said, agreed that Africa’s demand, presented in the “Ezulwini Consensus” for equitable representation of the region of Africa, is critically different from the demand of 4 States — Brazil, Germany, India, and Japan — who are campaigning for permanent membership of the Council for “themselves”.
Africa’s Demand for Regional Seats
The demands of Africa for regional seats are aimed to rectify injustice not to exacerbate injustice, the envoy said, noting that UNSC’s structure reflected the 1945 power realities.
The Pakistani envoy suggested the creation of “special regional seats” to increase equitable geographical representation, saying that these seats could be rotated among member countries within the region or even represented by regional organizations like the European Union, the African Union, the Arab League, and the OIC.
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At the same time, he reiterated Islamabad’s stand against adding more veto-wielding permanent members, highlighting in recent months the UNSC’s frequent inability to take effective collective action, particularly in ending the Israeli war in Gaza.
He said that more vetoes will multiply the prospects of paralysis in the UNSC. It is for this reason that Islamabad has opposed the addition of new permanent members on the Security Council.
