AUC debate: Raila lobbies for Africa to get 2 seats with veto powers on UN Security Council

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has revealed that he will lobby for Africa to get two permanent seats at the United Nations Security Council should he become the African Union Commission Chairperson in February next year.

Speaking during the Mjadala Afrika debate in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Friday, Raila explained that Africa, comprising 55 nations, should have representation within the council to promote the continent's interests when discussing global security.

He added that the two members must have veto powers to stop proposed resolutions from becoming operational.

"This is long overdue. UN was formed at a time when most African countries were colonies and that's why it doesn't deal with the realities of today," Raila stated.

"In a situation where 5 countries have veto powers and Africa is not represented is not tenable. We're going to insist Africa get 2 permanent seats in the Security Council. We cannot be excluded when Europe has 3 seats. Permanent representations with veto powers is a must."

Currently, there are only five permanent members within the UN Security Council that can exercise veto powers. They include China, Russia, France, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The right to veto means that no decision or resolution within the council can be passed if any of the five permanent members disapprove it.

Further, Raila pointed out how the international financial structure has become a burden for African countries which end up borrowing loans at high interest rates.

He explored options for alternative financing that would enable African countries to create a pool of funds to borrow from at low interest rates.

"The international financing structure has worked against Africa because countries borrow at high interest rates compared to other nations. We need to address this issue. Africa is the richest in terms of resources but it's also the poorest in terms of living conditions," he remarked.

His remarks echoed President William Ruto's clarion call for reforms of the global financial structure to address economic issues in the continent. 

For months, Ruto has castigated the foreign powers for labelling Africa as a risky borrower despite its vast wealth in natural resources and called for Africa to be granted a fair chance to turn its potential into opportunity. 

He has previously noted that the AUC should be the vehicle to prosecute African economic diplomacy effectively.

“A better, more responsive, and fairer international development financial architecture is urgently needed. Time is of the essence,” Ruto said at KICC in May 2024. 

“The African Union was initially a liberation movement, but we must repurpose and re-engineer it so that it addresses the challenges of the moment.”