Foreign Affairs Minister Harry Kalaba says the time is now ripe for Africa to have a permanent seat on the United Nations (UN ) Security Council.
And Sierra Leon which is co-chairing the meeting with Zambia has implored African governments to vigorously push Africa’s case for a geographical representation on the UN Security Council.
Mr Kalaba said the continued non-representation of Africa on the UN Security Council cannot be justified any longer as the world has changed in the last fifty years of the UN’s existence.
He said the UN needs to reform in order for it to be more effective in propelling the development agenda of Africa and the world at large.
The Minister further said Africa deserves a geographical representation on the elite UN Security Council to be able to adequately address issues affecting the continent.
ZANIS reports that Mr Kalaba pointed out that Africa is the most talked about continent in Africa hence the need for the continent to have permanent representation on the Security Council in order to play a greater role in influencing matters relating to and affecting Africa.
Mr Kalaba was speaking when he opened the council of ministers meeting ahead of the summit of heads of state of the African Union committee of ten in Livingstone.
He implored Foreign Affairs Ministers from the committee of Ten to ensure that progressive proposals, strategies and recommendations are mooted that will help accelerate the realization of Africa’s goal of equitable representation in the UN Security Council.
The minister said the idea of some nations being more equal than others should be relegated to history books and that the global village should now embrace a global governance structure that looks at the interests of the global community.
The UN Security Council is made up of Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States of America.
Mr Kalaba disclosed that the committee of ten has already made representations to Britain, China and France and is yet to meet representatives from Russia and the USA.
The Minister has since called on African countries to be resolute in lobbying for Africa’s case for a seat on the UN Security Council in order to play a greater role in world affairs.
And Sierra Leon which is co-chairing the meeting with Zambia has implored African governments to vigorously push Africa’s case for a geographical representation on the UN Security Council.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Samura Kamara said Africa faces a lot of multifaceted challenges that require her presence on the UN security Council for equitable redress.
Dr Kamara, said the continent must strive to demand for reforms in the United Nations Security Council systems to ensure that the continent has an equitable geographical presentation.
Sierra Leon Ambassador Andrew Bangali, speaking on behalf of Dr Kamara, told the meeting that the present composition of the UN Security Council does not uphold the core principle and values upon which the United Nations is founded.
He expressed optimism that the African continent will cohesively and coherently stand united in promoting, canvassing and advancing the common African position of a UN Security Council seat.
The African Union Committee of ten Summit is being held in Livingstone to push Africa’s agenda of reforms on the United Nations and subsequent permanent representation in the Security Council.
Countries attending the summit include Algeria, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, Libya, Namibia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Uganda and Zambia as host.
The Livingstone Summit is being hosted by Zambia under the theme: ‘The Livingstone Strategy for Accelerating the UN Reforms’.
A committee of 10 countries was constituted at the Ezwilini Summit in Swaziland, comprising two countries from each region, whose task was to lobby the permanent members of the UN Security Council to support Africa’s position.
Zambia and Namibia are the founding members of the C10 representing the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.
Yes Africa deserves a permanent seat at the UN Security Council with veto powers as the current five permanent ones.
But which country can represent the whole continent?
I suggest we have it on rotational basis
It is also time for Kalaba and his minions to repeal the the archaic colonial Public Order Act, enact a people driven constitution and curb nepotism in the PF
Ba Harry don’t be a sheep following the flock, what good will Africa having a permanent seat do for us as a continent? You had an African Secretary General then a genocide with almost one million dead under that fool Kofi Annan’s watch, you now have a half African as US President who killed your beloved Ghadaffi..yayaya please let’s not be sheep. The hopeless AU has even failed to address the deaths of migrants in the Mediterranean as well as the xenophobic attacks in SA. And which country do you want to have that seat? SA who don’t care or want to be associated with Africans, Nigeria that fails to protect its own citizens from terrorists or Egypt that doesn’t consider itself African? Please let’s solve our problems first before we even think of vetoing on other nations problems.
Africans are not ready for anything but corruption and plunder. A close look at all these African leaders leaves no doubt we can’t trust you with anything, let alone your own lives. Not until the scourge of greed is routed out then we may trust you with some decision making. For now your irresponsible behavior leaves much to be desired.
Yes, we can now finally do it… We have done it before (when our/Africa’s votes helped to sit our all weather – friend China, on the UN security Council). Surely, with the current political sway Beijing now commands at the international level as well as our blossoming renewed friendship ( + the backing from Russia), we can do it my mother Africa!
To hell with the same old ‘looking down on Africa’ rhetoric coming from the western imperialists…
And what good will that do for us?
It will just be an excuse for Mugabe and his dictator club spend more money on themselves.
Let us show the world we can fix our own problems first. When we stop begging for aid money maybe we can talk about others problems.
Start by showing the AU is not just a toothless talking shop wasting resources on extravagant trips by politicians.
Lead by example and end our civil wars through our own efforts.
Show we can have democratic and transparent Goverments.
Then we will be ASKED to have a seat. Now all we can show is corrupt dictatorships. Does the world need more of those?
Influenced by Mugabe – this is typical what Mugabe tells the young Foreign ministers. The focus should be to get local politics right instead of focusing on UN. People need jobs and food not some UN seat.