PLAY PODCASTS
Why doesn’t Africa have a permanent seat at the UN Security Council?

Why doesn’t Africa have a permanent seat at the UN Security Council?

Will Africa ever get a permanent seat at the UN Security Council?

Africa Daily · BBC World Service

September 28, 202217m 16s

Audio is streamed directly from the publisher (open.live.bbc.co.uk) as published in their RSS feed. Play Podcasts does not host this file. Rights-holders can request removal through the copyright & takedown page.

Show Notes

The United Nations Security Council is tasked with ensuring international peace and security.

It has five permanent members – China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

It also has 10 other members who are elected on a regional basis for a term of two years, and among those there at the moment representing Africa are Gabon, Ghana and Kenya.

At the recent UN General Assembly – UNGA – among the many topics that were discussed, the question about having a seat on a permanent basis for Africa – which is the only world regions that’s not represented permanently - was raised.

Today Alan Kasujja is asking why doesn’t Africa have a permanent seat at the UN Security Council.

He’s been speaking with Professor Carlos Lopes, who’s held various UN roles over the years, including policy director for former and late Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

He’s professor in the Mandela School of Public Governance at the University of Cape Town in South Africa.