“UNSC agenda about us without us”: SouthAfrican FM
June 8, 2015, 11:25 am

File photo of an African Union Summit [Xinhua]

South African Foreign Minister, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, while addressing the media in Pretoria on Monday, pointed out the insufficient representation of Africa and its lack of participation in the decision-making processes of the UNSC.

“The agenda of the UN Security Council is about us without us. The AU will reiterate calls for the reform of the UNSC,” she said.

Mashabane’s comments reiterate Pretoria’s demands made in 2013 that the African continent must have at least two permanent seats at the UNSC.

“This year marks the 70th Anniversary of the formation of the United Nations (UN) and the deadline for the UN Millennium Development Goals. It is expected that the AU will use the occasion of its 25th Summit to reiterate the call for the UN to reform, paying particular attention on the role and level of representation of African states in the UN system,” the South African Foreign Minister said on Monday.

With more than 80 per cent of issues taken up by the Security Council relating to African affairs and not a single permanent member from Africa, the UN has battled with issues of legitimacy and representativeness.

The UNSC, which has powers to authorize military action, impose sanctions and set up peacekeeping operations, has 10 rotating members. The US, China, Russia, France and Britain are permanent members which wield a veto.

BRICS members, India, South Africa and Brazil have bid for permanent membership of the UNSC.

The 54-nation African continent has a representation of only three non-permanent members without veto power in the UNSC.

South Africa is hosting the AU Summit for the first time since the formation of the African Union in Durban in 2002. The summit will continue till 15 June.

The South African Foreign Minister on Monday also urged focus on food security for the continent.

“We need to attain food security for Africa and become the food basket of the world,” said Mashabane.

African leaders from across the continent have gathered in the capital for the 25th summit of the African Union, which seeks African solutions for African problems.

When African heads of state meet later this week, they will take stock of the latest on the Ebola crisis, alternative sources of financing the AU, and the state of peace and security in Africa among other important issues.

The AU was established as an organization to fight for African unity and initially fought against colonialism.

TBP