Deputy Speaker Tayebwa calls for African representation at the UN

Thomas Tayebwa, Uganda’s Deputy Speaker of Parliament, spearheaded a call for reforms at the United Nations, urging Africa to be granted additional power, including two permanent seats on the UN Security Council.

Addressing the ongoing 63rd Organization of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS) – European Union Joint Parliamentary Assembly in Brussels, Belgium, Tayebwa lamented the absence of African representation on the UN Security Council, despite the continent’s size being three times that of Europe.

Tayebwa also emphasized the need for the African Union to have a stronger voice within the UN’s International Peace and Security Organization.

He vowed that Uganda, alongside its allies, would advocate for Africa to secure a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.

Tayebwa criticized the Security Council for primarily focusing on resolving disputes between major powers, neglecting Africa. He referred to the handling of the invasion of Libya, where the Security Council’s actions resulted in a messy situation. Tayebwa noted that recent events involving an ally in the Security Council, impacting a European nation, should serve as wake-up calls for broader reforms.

He further highlighted the lack of representation for Latin America and Africa as permanent members on the Security Council, with China being the sole Asian representative. Tayebwa argued that this skewed composition damaged the legitimacy of the Security Council, characterizing it as a forum dominated by Western powers and Great Powers, marginalizing smaller states and the Global South.

To address the evolving challenges to international peace and security, potential reforms could involve increasing the number of permanent and non-permanent members.

Tayebwa stressed that Africa faced numerous challenges that warranted attention from the council, including climate change, insecurity, terrorism, and poverty. He reaffirmed Uganda’s commitment to pursuing reforms within the UN’s most influential body.

During African Union assemblies, Uganda consistently called on African nations not to settle for anything less than two permanent seats on the UN Security Council until equitable representation was achieved.

Uganda’s stance is rooted in the belief that adequate representation is a rightful demand shared by other developing regions. Tayebwa contended that reforms were necessary to ensure the inclusivity and relevance of the global body in line with current realities.

When the UN was established in 1945, the current five permanent members of the UN Security Council were chosen due to their strong economies, post-World War II victories, or large populations. The United States, the United Kingdom, China, Russia, and France hold the permanent seats.

General Michael Reuben Nyambuya, Zimbabwe’s Deputy President of the Senate, echoed the call for equitable African representation. He proposed an expanded council that included at least two permanent seats and five non-permanent seats for Africa. Nyambuya criticized the current system as undemocratic, undermining the principles of democracy that are often emphasized.