The UN Security Council was created 80 years ago and needs reform, said Secretary-General Antonio Guterres today, 24 September, in the general debate of the high-level week of the UN General Assembly.
“The UN Security Council was created by the victors of World War II. Much of Africa was still under colonial rule. To this day, Africa does not have a permanent seat on the world’s largest peacekeeping council. This must change. Just like the global financial architecture established 80 years ago.” Guterres said.
There were no specific proposals on his part for reform of the UN Security Council.
The Security Council is made up of 15 countries: five permanent members (Russia, the United States, Great Britain, China and France), who have veto power, and ten temporary members, elected for a period of two years. They are Japan, Ecuador, Switzerland, Mozambique and Malta (elected for 2023 and 2024), as well as Slovenia, Algeria, Sierra Leone, South Korea and Guyana (for 2024-2025).
