Rwandan President Paul Kagame has underscored the importance of enacting comprehensive reforms within the African Union (AU) before Africa can fully leverage the U.S. proposal for two permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for African nations.
Kagame suggested that these proposed seats should be allocated in a manner that reflects the continent’s collective interests, proposing that one seat be designated for the AU Commission while the other could rotate among African countries.
His comments come in response to warnings from Ambassador Martin Kimani, Executive Director at New York University’s Center on International Cooperation.
Kimani has urged caution, pointing out the potential for division within Africa if UNSC seats are pursued without first addressing necessary reforms within the AU.
Kimani warned that without adequate internal reforms, the U.S. offer might lead to fragmentation and manipulation by external powers, which could undermine Africa’s unity.
He stressed that Africa’s focus should be on internal cohesion and AU reform to present a unified stance on the UNSC.
He advocated for the expedited implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the strengthening of the AU’s Peace and Security Council to bolster decision-making and security across the continent.
The U.S. proposal for UNSC reform was introduced by Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, who endorsed a more inclusive and representative Council.
Currently, Africa holds three non-permanent UNSC seats on a rotating basis for two-year terms, but Thomas-Greenfield noted that these seats do not provide African countries with the full participation required to significantly influence the Council’s activities.
Both Kagame and Kimani agree that AU reform is crucial before pursuing permanent UNSC seats, ensuring that Africa’s voice is effectively represented and heard on the global st
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