Africa’s Expanding Global Role Warrants Permanent UN Security Council Representation: AU Executive Council Chair

Addis Ababa, July 28, 2026 (FMC) — Africa’s growing influence in global affairs should be matched by permanent representation on the United Nations Security Council, Chairperson of the African Union Executive Council Édouard Nduwimana said, renewing the continent’s call for reforms to the global governance architecture.

Addressing the opening of the 49th Ordinary Session of the AU Executive Council in Addis Ababa on Tuesday, Nduwimana said global decision-making institutions must evolve to reflect the realities of the 21st century and Africa’s increasingly prominent role on the international stage.

The chairperson, who also serves as Burundi’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation, said Africa’s admission to the G20 marked a historic milestone that underscores the continent’s growing importance in global economic governance. He stressed, however, that reform of the United Nations Security Council remains an unfinished priority.

He reaffirmed the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration as the cornerstone of Africa’s common position on UN Security Council reform, calling on African countries to maintain a unified voice in advancing the continent’s shared interests on the global stage.

Nduwimana noted that Africa is navigating a pivotal period marked by persistent conflicts, climate change, economic pressures, unemployment and the imperative to accelerate industrialization and strengthen self-reliance. Despite these challenges, he said, the continent continues to establish itself as an indispensable actor in global affairs.

He also urged member states to ensure that African Union commitments, decisions and policies are translated into tangible benefits for the continent’s people.

Highlighting the importance of financial independence, Nduwimana underscored the need for sustainable financing of the African Union, stressing that the continent should increasingly rely on its own resources to implement its priorities and safeguard its decision-making autonomy.

He added that stronger financial contributions from member states would enhance the credibility, ownership and predictability of the continental organization.

The chairperson further emphasized the importance of preserving the African Union’s tradition of consensus-based decision-making, describing it as a reflection of political maturity and a key pillar of continental unity.

He also expressed appreciation to the Government and people of Ethiopia for hosting the session, describing Addis Ababa as a symbol of Pan-Africanism and African unity.

The two-day 49th Ordinary Session of the AU Executive Council has brought together foreign ministers and senior representatives of AU member states under the African Union’s 2026 theme, “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063.”