Mudavadi urges unified African voice in push for UN Security Council reforms

Kenya has called for a united voice in propagating for Africa’s common position on the reforms of the United Nations Security Council.

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has said Africa must seize the current opportunity to galvanize political support for an expeditious Security Council reform that prioritizes the continent’s representation in the council.

Mudavadi said the reform process must recognize that Africa be treated as an exceptional and priority case.

“Africa’s non-representation in the permanent category and under-representation in the non-permanent category, in the organ of the United Nations that is entrusted with the primary responsibility of maintaining international peace and security, is a historical injustice that needs urgent redress,” Mudavadi stated.

“As a region, we must unite; we must be ready and we must be open to pragmatically and strategically consider all approaches, as long as they do not compromise on the central tenets of the Common African Position (CAP),” he added.

Mudavadi, who is also the Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs was speaking during the 11th ministerial meeting of the Committee of Ten (C-10) of the African Union on the reforms of the United Nations Security Council underway in Algiers, Algeria.

He said advocating for Africa’s Common Position, will offer reasonable and practical proposals for not only addressing historical injustices; but also creates a representative, democratic, accountable, and effective global security governance system that accommodates the aspirations of all nations, and aims to protect their sovereignty, resources, and lives.

“Currently, we have two C-10 Members in the Security Council – Algeria and Sierra Leone, working together with the other African Member States, must focus on strengthening Africa’s bargaining power, especially through key messaging and meetings.” he noted.

He underscored the need for Africa to stand out in view of the rapidly evolving international security realities, and the multiple failures of the Security Council to take action.

“As Africa intensifies her engagement with other Member States, interest groups, and regional groups, we must ensure that the presentation of the Common African Position on the reform model is underpinned by an in-depth appreciation of the historical and political contexts then and now,” he said.

“This comprehensive and nuanced approach of engagement must also be driven by the conviction and exemplification that Africa’s permanent presence and effective representation in the UN Security Council will undoubtedly better position the multilateral system to deal with the current and future peace and security challenges.”

Mudavadi said advocating for Africa’s Common Position, will offer reasonable and practical proposals for not only addressing historical injustices; but also creates a representative, democratic, accountable, and effective global security governance system that accommodates the aspirations of all nations, and aims to protect their sovereignty, resources, and lives.

“Currently, we have two C-10 Members in the Security Council – Algeria and Sierra Leone, working together with the other African Member States, must focus on strengthening Africa’s bargaining power, especially through key messaging and meetings.” he noted.

Mudavadi disclosed that Africa will now be leveraging on the September United Nations Summit of the Future to galvanize political support for an expeditious Security Council reform.

Member States of the Committee of Ten include Kenya, Uganda, Namibia, Sierra Leone, Libya, Equatorial Guinea, Senegal, Zambia, the Republic of Congo, and Algeria.