Africa Demands Inclusion at UNGA: At the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), South African President Cyril Ramaphosa made a compelling case for reforming the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
His primary message was clear: Africa demands inclusion in the UNSC, which has long excluded the continent from its key decision-making processes. This exclusion has left Africa, with its 1.4 billion people, without a voice in the most critical global peace and security discussions.
Ramaphosa’s call for reform comes as the UNSC faces growing criticism for its inability to address contemporary global conflicts effectively. With mounting pressure from global leaders and organizations, the need for UNSC reform has reached a critical point. Ramaphosa highlighted Africa’s injustices by being left out of these decisions, emphasizing that UNGA Africa demands inclusion in global governance.
Africa’s Exclusion from the Security Council Must End
At the core of Ramaphosa’s address was the urgent need for reform within the UNSC, specifically focusing on the exclusion of African nations. He pointed out that the UNSC structure, formed after World War II, has remained largely unchanged, and Africa’s growing influence and population have not been represented.
“Achieving peace and security on a global scale requires the participation of all nations, and UNGA Africa demands inclusion in the Security Council,” Ramaphosa emphasized. He called for the UN to adapt to modern geopolitical realities, particularly by incorporating African nations into crucial decision-making bodies.
Ramaphosa’s call for Africa’s inclusion at UNGA is part of a broader demand by African leaders who argue that the UNSC will continue to be ineffective in fulfilling its peacekeeping responsibilities without reform.
UNSC Reform and Africa’s Role in Global Peace
Ramaphosa’s speech at UNGA comes amid increasing calls for reform of the UNSC, a body criticized for its outdated structure and disproportionate power held by the five permanent members—the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, France, and China. These permanent members (P5) hold veto power, which they have used to block critical resolutions on global conflicts, including those in the Middle East and Africa.
“Africa demands inclusion because the current structure allows the P5 to dictate the terms of global peace and security,” Ramaphosa stated. He pointed out that the P5 often use their veto powers to advance their geopolitical interests, leaving global issues unresolved and worsening conflicts in regions like Africa and the Middle East.
This demand for reform aligns with broader calls from organizations such as Oxfam, which recently released a report accusing the P5 of abusing their veto powers to block progress on issues like the war in Ukraine and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Oxfam argued that the UNGA Africa demands inclusion because excluding African nations undermines global peace efforts.
Linking Israel’s Actions to South African Apartheid
Ramaphosa also used his platform to draw a connection between Israel’s treatment of Palestinians and South Africa’s own apartheid past. He stated that South Africans understand the pain of apartheid and are compelled to speak out against the violence faced by the Palestinian people.
“The violence the Palestinian people are subjected to is a grim continuation of more than half a century of apartheid,” Ramaphosa said, highlighting why UNGA Africa demands inclusion in resolving such critical global issues.
South Africa has taken a strong stance against human rights abuses in Palestine, even taking Israel to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over its military actions in Gaza. Ramaphosa’s comparison of apartheid in South Africa to the plight of Palestinians resonated with the assembly, underscoring the importance of reforming the UNSC to address long-standing global conflicts.
Global Calls for UNSC Reform Intensify
Ramaphosa’s speech at the UNGA highlights Africa’s demands for inclusion in global decision-making processes. The exclusion of African voices has become a significant point of contention, especially given the continent’s growing political and economic influence on the global stage.
Oxfam’s report further criticizes the UNSC, pointing out that Africa demands inclusion because the current system is not working for everyone. The P5 members continue to wield disproportionate power, using their veto rights to block resolutions that could help resolve conflicts in regions like Africa and the Middle East.
The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has also warned that the UNSC is losing credibility due to its outdated structure. He urged the global body to take immediate steps to reform the council and make it more representative of the modern world.
“Africa demands inclusion at the UNSC,” Guterres said, echoing Ramaphosa’s call for a more equitable global governance system.
Africa’s Place in Global Decision-Making
Ramaphosa’s plea for reform of the UNSC is part of a larger conversation about Africa’s role in global governance. The continent, which is home to 1.4 billion people, has been sidelined in global decision-making for far too long. However, as the world becomes more interconnected, Africa’s exclusion from key discussions is no longer tenable.
At the UNGA, Africa’s demand for inclusion in the Security Council is about more than representation—it’s about ensuring that global decisions reflect the realities and interests of all nations, not just a select few.
Africa’s developmental agenda, Agenda 2063, aims to drive economic growth and political stability. Ramaphosa argued that Africa cannot achieve its goals if it continues to be excluded from critical decision-making platforms like the UNSC.
The Pact for the Future: A Step Toward Reform
During the session, the UNGA adopted the Pact for the Future, a comprehensive plan to strengthen multilateral cooperation and address the growing demand for global governance reform. Ramaphosa described this pact as a critical step toward reinvigorating the multilateral system and ensuring that Africa’s voices are heard.
“UNGA Africa demands inclusion in global governance,” Ramaphosa said, underscoring the pact’s importance in reshaping international institutions like the UNSC and global financial bodies.
The Pact for the Future also addresses the urgent need for reform in the UNSC and international financial institutions, ensuring that they reflect the changing geopolitical landscape and accommodate emerging powers like Africa.
Conclusion: Africa’s Growing Role in Global Governance
As UNGA Africa demands inclusion in the UN Security Council and global decision-making bodies, it becomes clear that the world can no longer ignore the continent’s voice. Ramaphosa’s powerful speech underscores the urgency of reforming the UNSC to reflect the modern world, where Africa’s growing influence is undeniable.
Ramaphosa’s call for UNSC reform at the UNGA emphasizes the need for a more just and representative global governance system. His comparisons of apartheid to the situation in Palestine highlight the importance of addressing human rights issues fairly and inclusively.
With the adoption of the Pact for the Future, there is renewed hope that the voices calling for change will lead to a more just and inclusive global order—one where Africa’s demands for inclusion are finally recognized, and the continent can take its rightful place at the decision-making table.
