Time for Africa, developing world to get veto at UN Security Council

The United Nations (UN) Charter established the Security Council with the primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security.

It has the authority to meet whenever peace is threatened and is the only UN body with the power to make binding decisions that member states must implement under the Charter.

Currently, the Security Council comprises 15 countries: five permanent members—Russia, Great Britain, China, the USA, and France—and 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms.

However, concerns have been raised about the fairness of the Security Council's composition, particularly the disproportionate influence held by the five permanent members, especially regarding the veto power.

Many nations believe the current structure of the Security Council no longer reflects the geopolitical realities of the modern world and have called for reform.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has acknowledged that most member states recognise the need for change.

One of the strongest voices advocating for reform is Russia, which has called for the inclusion of permanent representation from Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Critics argue that the current structure is overly "Westernised" and serves the interests of the US and its European allies, leaving developing regions underrepresented.

Proposals

The US has also put forward reform proposals, particularly increasing both permanent and non-permanent membership.

However, many countries from Africa, Asia, and Latin America contend that the American proposals fail to address the current global balance of power and do not grant the new members veto power.

Russia's proposal, in contrast, includes expanding the number of permanent members and granting veto rights to some of them, ensuring that the new members have a more equal influence.

Experts from the Wilson Center (USA) argue that without veto rights, new members would be relegated to "second-class" status. Many developing nations express concern that the US approach reflects a continued dominance by Western powers, especially the United States.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has emphasised that any reform should prioritise the representation of developing countries while maintaining the veto power of existing permanent members.

Lavrov advocates for a redistribution of influence in the UN to better reflect the multipolar world order, where the influence of emerging nations is growing.

Similarly, Secretary-General Guterres has supported reforms that would provide African nations with veto power in the Security Council, recognising the need for broader representation of the Global South.

Russia’s promotion of larger international organisations such as BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) further underscores its belief in the importance of inclusive, non-politicised solutions to global crises.

The expansion of BRICS, especially as it welcomes more countries from the Global South, demonstrates how such international collaboration can address modern geopolitical challenges.

Including African countries with veto power in the Security Council would allow for a more equitable distribution of influence, strengthening the voices of actively developing nations in global decision-making.

For instance, Kenyan President William Ruto, who has strongly criticised the UN Security Council for its "ineffectiveness" and lack of democratic principles at the 78th session of the Security Council in 2023, described it as “dysfunctional, undemocratic, non-inclusive, and unrepresentative,” calling for a more inclusive approach to prevent conflicts and resolve ongoing international crises swiftly.