Makewetalknow

Africa is the world’s second-largest and second-most populous continent, just after Asia. Interestingly, at a distance of about 30.3 million km, including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth’s total surface area and 20% of its land area. Notably, Africa has the youngest population globally, with an average age of 19 years. This is in stark contrast to other continents, where ageing populations prevail. The median age in Asia and South America is 31 years, while Europe, North America, and Oceania have even older populations.

Despite this trend, Africa’s population continues to grow, with projections indicating that the continent will be home to approximately 40% of the world’s population by the end of the 21st century. This significant growth underscores Africa’s emerging role as a major player in global demographics

The reason I started this article with demographic data about Africa is to emphasize Africa’s growing significance and the continuing impact it will continue to have on the world stage.  Africa’s immense contributions to global culture, economy, and politics have been consistently overlooked, resulting in the continent’s under-representation and marginalization in international forums. The continent has been disproportionately affected by conflicts, emergencies, and geopolitical divisions, with nearly 50% of the UN Security Council’s agenda items related to African conflicts.

Despite being home to 1.3 billion people, or approximately 17% of the world’s population, Africa has been relegated to the periphery of global governance structures since the inception of the UN Security Council in 1946. Moreover, the United Nations tends to focus on African issues primarily in response to humanitarian crises, rather than engaging with the continent’s developmental and strategic concerns. This under-representation is evident across various international institutions, from the UN Security Council to international financial institutions and the World Bank.

Ironically, despite being severely impacted by these global challenges, Africa remains marginalized in international decision-making processes, holding limited seats and influence on the UN Security Council and other global governance structures. This glaring disconnect perpetuates a cycle where Africa is expected to bear the brunt of global problems, yet is consistently excluded from the development of solutions, undermining its agency and autonomy in addressing its challenges.

As things stand, the United Nations’ current structure is indeed a concern, as Africa continues to lack a permanent voice on the global stage. This under-representation is alarming, considering Africa makes up 28% of the UN’s membership

The United Nations Security Council is indeed the world’s premier security body, comprising five permanent members and ten non-permanent members elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms. The five permanent members, namely the United States, the United Kingdom, France, China, and Russia, wield significant influence due to their veto power and permanent membership. These five countries have the coveted veto power and a say on Global Security issues because of their permanent membership power.  They also have the power to make Security Council resolutions, such as adding new member states to the United Nations or choosing a Secretary-General. 

An analysis of the geographical distribution of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council reveals a notable concentration in three regions: North America, Europe, and Asia. The United States represents North America, with a population of approximately 331 million, while China represents Asia, home to around 4.6 billion people, with China alone accounting for approximately 1.44 billion. The United Kingdom and France represent Europe, which has a population of around 747 million, while Russia, with a population of approximately 146 million, spans across both Europe and Asia.

This concentration of permanent membership in three continents means that Africa, the world’s second-largest continent, with 55 countries and a population of over 1.3 billion people, or approximately 17% of the global population, remains without permanent representation, along with Australia/Oceania and South America.

You might recall that the United Nations was founded in 1945, a time when the majority of Africa was under colonial rule. As a result, African nations were not independently represented at the UN, but rather were represented by their European colonial powers. This meant that the interests and voices of African people were not directly represented on the global stage.

It has been 79 years since the establishment of the United Nations, and the world has experienced significant transformations. Despite this, the United Nations Security Council continues to delay its efforts to expand its membership to nations that deserve representation.

The fact that Africa continues to lack representation in the United Nations Security Council is a shame and infringes upon both the principles of fairness and inclusion. This situation is contrary to the fundamental principle of sovereign equality among nations as enshrined by the United Nations.

The UN security council can’t seem to reform itself because every previous attempt at reform, whether about its size, membership, or the powers it gives its members, has been a slow process for over three decades.   Any reform to the Security Council would require the agreement of at least two-thirds of the United Nations member states. This is the root cause of the problem. 

As the world has evolved significantly since the United Nations’ inception in 1945, the organization’s structure and decision-making processes must adapt to reflect the changing global landscape. The African Union has been advocating for two permanent seats on the Security Council, with all the rights and privileges, including the veto power. It is illogical that Africa, which contributes significantly to UN peacekeeping missions and is a crucial player in global affairs, is denied a permanent seat at the table.

The UN Security Council, in particular, is in dire need of reform to ensure fairness, better representation, and a more inclusive approach to international relations. We must all play a part and fulfil our obligation by advocating for a change to the outdated UN Security Council policy that has intentionally hindered the representation of Africa. 

The time has come for the continent to play a leading role in shaping major decisions and should not be considered a place reserved for western exploit. Granting Africa a permanent seat is not only a matter of fairness but also a recognition of the continent’s growing influence in global affairs. It would also enhance the legitimacy and effectiveness of the UN Security Council, allowing it to better address the complex challenges facing the world today.