United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has renewed his call for Africa to have permanent representation on the UN Security Council, arguing that the current structure does not reflect the realities of the modern world.
Speaking as leaders gathered in New York for the 81st United Nations General Assembly, Guterres said the continued absence of a permanent African member was difficult to justify.
“A 21st century Security Council without permanent African representation is unjust and indefensible,” Guterres said in a post on X on Wednesday, September 23.
He called for reforms that would make the Council more representative while strengthening its legitimacy and ability to respond to global challenges.
Why Africa wants a seat
The push for permanent African representation is not new.
African countries have for years argued that the composition of the Security Council reflects an international system created decades ago, when much of the continent was still under colonial rule.
The African Union’s common position, contained in the Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration, calls for at least two permanent seats for Africa, with the same rights and privileges attached to existing permanent membership, including the veto if the veto continues to exist. Africa also seeks five additional non-permanent seats.
The argument is also linked to the amount of attention the Security Council gives to African peace and security issues.
African governments have therefore maintained that the continent should have a greater role in decisions affecting international peace and security, rather than remaining largely represented through elected, non-permanent seats.
How the Security Council works
The Security Council currently has 15 members.
Five countries — China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States — are permanent members and hold veto powers.
The other 10 members are elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms.
This structure gives the permanent five a distinct position in decisions concerning international peace and security.
A reform that creates permanent African representation would therefore involve changes to one of the most powerful structures within the UN system.
It is not simply a question of giving Africa another seat. Negotiations also involve questions about the number of members, veto powers, regional representation and how the Council conducts its work.
Reform talks remain underway
The question of Security Council reform continues to be negotiated among UN member states.
Recent discussions have included proposals for expanding both the permanent and non-permanent categories of membership, while African countries have continued to press for their common position to be treated as a priority.
UN discussions show that the African model remains centred on two permanent seats and five additional non-permanent seats.
Guterres has repeatedly supported the broader reform effort.
Earlier in 2026, he told African leaders that the international institutions created after the Second World War needed to reflect today’s geopolitical realities, arguing that “this is 2026 – not 1946.”
His latest remarks therefore put the question of Africa’s representation back into the spotlight as leaders debate the future of the multilateral system.
What it means for Kenya
The debate also has significance for Kenya, which has previously played a role in the Security Council as an elected member.
Kenya served as a non-permanent member from 2021 to 2022, during which its then UN ambassador Martin Kimani served as president of the Council in October 2021.
Kimani has now taken another senior role at the UN after Guterres appointed him Assistant Secretary-General for Africa in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations earlier this month.
The appointment gives Kenya a senior voice within the UN system at a time when questions about Africa’s representation, peace and security are receiving renewed attention.
President William Ruto has also previously supported calls for a more representative Security Council, including permanent African representation.
A long-running question at the UN
Guterres’ latest intervention does not itself change the composition of the Security Council.
Any substantial reform would require agreement among UN member states and amendments to the UN Charter, making the process dependent on negotiations among countries with different interests.
For Africa, however, the issue goes beyond the number of seats.
The continent’s governments argue that greater representation would give African countries a stronger role in shaping decisions on conflicts, peacekeeping and international security — issues that have significant consequences for the continent.
As the 81st General Assembly continues, the question is therefore not simply whether the Security Council should expand, but how any new structure would distribute permanent membership, veto powers and regional representation.
For Guterres, the continued absence of a permanent African voice remains one of the clearest gaps in an international system he says must adapt to the realities of the 21st century.
Meta description: UN Secretary-General António Guterres has renewed calls for permanent African representation on the Security Council as UN members debate reforms to the global body.
