US wants more power for Africa at UN

US Ambassador to the UN He wants two permanent seats for African countries on the Security Council. But the reform agenda is difficult and characterized by self-interest.

Vienna/New York. Ensuring peace and security, respect for human rights and international law, and promoting international cooperation. These are the main functions of the United Nations. But doubts are growing whether the 193-member body can still meet these demands – particularly at the UN. The creation of the most important UN body is the most blatantly outdated in the more than 70-year-old institution, US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield criticized in a one-of-a-kind keynote address.

Just before the next UN General Assembly in New York, he advocated reform of the 15-member council. “For years, States have been calling for a more inclusive and representative Council that better reflects the demographics of today's world and better responds to the challenges we face,” Thomas-Greenfield said: Africa should have two permanent seats. In the Security Council, small island states in the Pacific have a rotating seat but their plan has more than one catch.