UN Secretary General Says African Region Underrepresented In Security Council

ADDIS ABABA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 10th February, 2019) Africa lacks sufficient representation in modern international organizations, including in the UN Security Council, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said at a press conference at the 32nd African Union Summit on Sunday.

"The weight of Africa, the institutional weight of Africa in general in international institutions does not tally with the African reality of today. That is particularly true with the Security Council. I always say that there cannot be a comprehensive reform of the United Nations without a reform of the Security Council.

We know how difficult that reform is and it is obvious that Africa is underrepresented when you see what the African continent represents in itself," Guterres said.

The UN Security Council has five permanent members - China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States - all of which have veto power, while there are 10 non-permanent members. However, politicians from a number of countries, such as Germany, India and South Africa, have repeatedly called for the reform of the institution that has not changed since 1945, in order to reflect changes in world order and realities.