UN Secretary-General António Guterres has renewed calls for reform of the United Nations Security Council, describing Africa’s continued absence from its permanent membership as “unjust and indefensible”.
Guterres made the remarks as world leaders gathered in New York for the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.
“Africa still has no permanent seat on the Security Council,” he said.
“A 21st century Security Council without permanent African representation is unjust & indefensible.
“We must reform the Council so that it reflects today’s world with the legitimacy and effectiveness that today’s challenges demand.”
The Security Council is the UN body responsible for maintaining international peace and security. It has 15 members, comprising five permanent members and 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms.
The permanent members are China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.
The five permanent members also hold veto powers, allowing any one of them to block the adoption of a substantive resolution despite it securing the required majority.
The influence of the veto was demonstrated in June 2025 when the United States blocked a Security Council resolution calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
The resolution received 14 votes in favour, including support from all 10 elected members of the Council, but failed after the US cast the only vote against it.
Africa’s demand for a permanent seat
The African Union has for years pushed for Security Council reform, arguing that Africa remains under-represented in a body whose decisions have major implications for global peace and security.
Under its Common African Position, the AU is seeking at least two permanent seats for Africa, with full privileges including the veto if the veto is retained, alongside five non-permanent seats.
Guterres has repeatedly backed changes to global institutions to reflect present-day geopolitical realities.
In February 2026, he told African leaders that the absence of permanent African representation on the Security Council was “indefensible”, arguing that the UN system should reflect today’s realities rather than those of 1945.
The UN secretary-general also renewed the call for Security Council reform during the opening of the 81st General Assembly, saying Africa had remained under-represented after eight decades despite being the largest regional group by number of UN member states and a key contributor to UN peacekeeping.
Guterres’ final year at the UN
Guterres became UN secretary-general in January 2017 and began his second five-year term in January 2022.
His second term ends on December 31, 2026, making 2026 his final year in office.
The UN has already begun the process of selecting his successor.
The secretary-general serves as the UN’s chief administrative officer and plays a central diplomatic role in representing the organisation on global peace, security and development issues.
