At UNGA, DRC President Tshisekedi demands more UNSC seats for Africa: Video
President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Felix Tshisekedi, during his speech at the ongoing 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, demanded more UN Security Council seats for Africa.
Tshisekedi, whose country has been plagued by a long-standing conflict with the armed groups like the M23 and the Islamic State-affiliated ADF in the eastern DRC, said, “Africa should receive two additional seats in the non-permanent category and two seats in the permanent member category with the same rights, including the right of veto, the same privileges, and the same obligations as the current permanent members.”
“With its 54 states and over 1.2 billion inhabitants, Africa cannot remain on the sidelines of decisions that affect international peace and security," he added.
The UNSC is composed of 15 members—5 permanent and 10 non-permanent members.
The permanent members are China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, and the ten non-permanent members are elected for two-year terms by the General Assembly.
Currently, only 3 African countries – Algeria, Sierra Leone and Somalia – are on the council.
Algeria and Sierra Leone will end their terms on the Council at the end of 2025, and Somalia at the end of 2026.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
