UNITED NATIONS – During a Security Council meeting focused on increasing African representation, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres highlighted the absence of a permanent African member on the United Nations Security Council as unacceptable. With Africa’s population exceeding 1 billion, its lack of representation contrasts sharply with the historical structure of the Council, formed at the conclusion of World War II.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the current composition of the Security Council does not reflect the modern geopolitical landscape, having undergone only minimal changes since 1945. “The world has changed significantly, yet the Security Council has not adapted accordingly,” Guterres stated, emphasizing the disparity between the global governance structures and the continents they serve.

Guterres pointed out that Africa is not only under-represented in these global structures but also disproportionately affected by the issues they are designed to manage. He noted that nearly half of the conflicts on the Security Council’s agenda are related to Africa and that over 40% of UN peacekeeping forces are from African nations.

“There can be no global security without security in Africa,” Guterres concluded, advocating for a revised and more inclusive UN Security Council. This call aligns with broader international discussions on reforming the Council to include more representatives from non-Western countries, including those from Africa, Asia, and Latin America, as echoed by statements from other international figures such as Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.