politics
February 17, 2026
Absence of Africa on UN Security Council ‘indefensible’
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged Security Council reform, saying a permanent seat for Africa is long overdue
TL;DR
- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres calls the lack of a permanent African seat on the UN Security Council 'indefensible'.
- Guterres stated the Security Council's structure does not align with the current global landscape ('This is 2026 – not 1946').
- The African Union (AU), a 55-nation organization, has been advocating for permanent representation on the UN Security Council.
- The AU formed the C-10 group in 2005 to champion a common African position on Security Council reforms.
- African leaders and Russia support expanding Africa's role and securing permanent seats on the Security Council.
- Current non-permanent members from Africa are elected for two-year terms, with specific countries serving during the 2026 and 2026-2027 terms.