The United Nations (UN) was created in 1945 with the important purpose of bringing nations together to promote peace, protect human rights, support development and prevent the world from returning to the devastation of global war. For more than 80 years, the UN has provided an important platform for countries to discuss issues affecting humanity.
Africa has a major stake in this global system. The continent has 54 UN member states and represents a significant bloc in the UN General Assembly. Africa also contributes to global peacekeeping and plays an important role in international development and the fight against climate change. Yet Africa still has no permanent seat on the UN Security Council.
This year’s 81st UN General Assembly comes at a difficult time for the world. Its theme, “Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations That Delivers for All,” speaks directly to the challenges facing the international community.
The world is grappling with wars, economic pressures, rising living costs, debt, inequality and growing distrust in international institutions. At the same time, climate change continues to threaten communities and economies. Southern Africa is facing warnings of below-normal rainfall and higher temperatures linked to a strong El Niño, raising concerns about agriculture and food security.
These are not distant problems for Africa. They affect the food on our tables, the livelihoods of our farmers, the cost of living and the future of our children.
The UN reform debate, therefore, cannot remain a discussion among diplomats alone.
The international system still carries many features of the post-Second World War order. The world of 2026 is vastly different from that of 1945. Africa has changed. Asia has changed. Latin America has changed. The global economy has changed. Technology has transformed societies, while new forms of conflict and climate threats have emerged.
Yet some of the most powerful structures of global decision-making remain largely unchanged.
The African Union has maintained a common African position, calling for at least two permanent seats and five non-permanent seats for Africa on a reformed Security Council.
This is an issue Africa must continue to pursue. The continent cannot continue to be heavily affected by decisions on international peace and security while having no permanent representation on the Council. We cannot remain in the stands as spectators while decisions affecting our continent are made on the field.
Africa must, therefore, move beyond repeatedly calling for reform and build stronger political, diplomatic and civil society support to achieve it.
The UN should also examine how accessible and neutral its institutions are. Delegates attending UN meetings should not face difficulties obtaining visas or entering the country hosting the organisation’s headquarters. This raises fundamental questions about the universality and accessibility of the UN system.
Can we honestly speak of a truly universal institution when representatives of sovereign states face difficulties entering the country where the world’s most important international organisation is headquartered?
Let me be clear: this is not an argument against the United States. It is an argument for a UN system that is accessible and sufficiently neutral for all its members. Perhaps, the time has come for a serious discussion about whether the UN’s main headquarters should remain permanently located in one national jurisdiction, or whether a more neutral international arrangement should be considered.
We cannot seriously pursue Africa’s Agenda 2063 while leaving Africa’s place in global governance largely unchanged. The continent’s development ambitions require a global system in which African countries have a stronger voice in decisions affecting their future.
Civil society must also play its part. African civil society organisations must work with their governments to build informed public support for these reforms.
The UN belongs to all its member states. Its structures should therefore reflect today’s world. We cannot deny that the UN remains an important institution, but its credibility depends on its ability to adapt and respond to contemporary realities.
