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Foreign Affairs Minister Harry Kalaba says the time is now ripe for Africa to have a permanent seat on the United Nations (UN ) Security Council.
And Sierra Leon which is co-chairing the meeting with Zambia has implored African governments to vigorously push Africa’s case for a geographical representation on the UN Security Council.
Mr Kalaba said the continued non-representation of Africa on the UN Security Council cannot be justified any longer as the world has changed in the last fifty years of the UN’s existence.
He said the UN needs to reform in order for it to be more effective in propelling the development agenda of Africa and the world at large.
The Minister further said Africa deserves a geographical representation on the elite UN Security Council to be able to adequately address issues affecting the continent.
ZANIS reports that Mr Kalaba pointed out that Africa is the most talked about continent in Africa hence the need for the continent to have permanent representation on the Security Council in order to play a greater role in influencing matters relating to and affecting Africa.
Mr Kalaba was speaking when he opened the council of ministers meeting ahead of the summit of heads of state of the African Union committee of ten in Livingstone.
He implored Foreign Affairs Ministers from the committee of Ten to ensure that progressive proposals, strategies and recommendations are mooted that will help accelerate the realization of Africa’s goal of equitable representation in the UN Security Council.
The minister said the idea of some nations being more equal than others should be relegated to history books and that the global village should now embrace a global governance structure that looks at the interests of the global community.
The UN Security Council is made up of Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States of America.
Mr Kalaba disclosed that the committee of ten has already made representations to Britain, China and France and is yet to meet representatives from Russia and the USA.
The Minister has since called on African countries to be resolute in lobbying for Africa’s case for a seat on the UN Security Council in order to play a greater role in world affairs.
And Sierra Leon which is co-chairing the meeting with Zambia has implored African governments to vigorously push Africa’s case for a geographical representation on the UN Security Council.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Samura Kamara said Africa faces a lot of multifaceted challenges that require her presence on the UN security Council for equitable redress.
Dr Kamara, said the continent must strive to demand for reforms in the United Nations Security Council systems to ensure that the continent has an equitable geographical presentation.
Sierra Leon Ambassador Andrew Bangali, speaking on behalf of Dr Kamara, told the meeting that the present composition of the UN Security Council does not uphold the core principle and values upon which the United Nations is founded.
He expressed optimism that the African continent will cohesively and coherently stand united in promoting, canvassing and advancing the common African position of a UN Security Council seat.
The African Union Committee of ten Summit is being held in Livingstone to push Africa’s agenda of reforms on the United Nations and subsequent permanent representation in the Security Council.
Countries attending the summit include Algeria, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, Libya, Namibia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Uganda and Zambia as host.
The Livingstone Summit is being hosted by Zambia under the theme: ‘The Livingstone Strategy for Accelerating the UN Reforms’.
A committee of 10 countries was constituted at the Ezwilini Summit in Swaziland, comprising two countries from each region, whose task was to lobby the permanent members of the UN Security Council to support Africa’s position.
Zambia and Namibia are the founding members of the C10 representing the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.
