Africa’s bid for a seat on the Security Council

Africa is represented at the United Nations by 54 countries, yet none of them holds a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. The Council, which has significant authority over matters of international peace and security, was structured in 1945 when the post‑World War II order was established.

African nations have long voiced concerns about their lack of permanent representation and are again pressing for reform of the Security Council. The renewed push raises questions about what institutional changes would be required to alter a body whose membership and rules date back to the mid‑20th century.

Reforming the Security Council would involve revisiting arrangements that were agreed nearly eight decades ago, a process that carries political and procedural complexities. Al Jazeera’s reporting by Noor Wazwaz examines the practical and diplomatic obstacles that would need to be overcome for African states to secure permanent representation.

The debate over Council reform reflects broader discussions about how international institutions should evolve to mirror shifts in global demographics, politics and influence since 1945. Any change to permanent membership would have implications for which countries hold sustained power in decisions on international security.