AU Chair Renews Africa’s Call for Security Council Reform, Permanent Seats

Addis Ababa, September 22, 2025 (FMC) – Joao Lourenco, President of Angola and Chairperson of the African Union (AU), has renewed Africa’s long-overdue demand for reform of the United Nations Security Council (#UNSC), calling for at least two permanent seats for the continent.

Speaking at the 7th Summit of the AU Committee of Heads of State and Government on Security Council Reform in New York on Sunday, Lourenco stressed that Africa deserves full membership in the Council, including the veto rights granted to other permanent members.

He highlighted that permanent representation should be complemented by five non-permanent seats, ensuring Africa moves from being a subject of Security Council decisions to an active participant in shaping them.

“This demand is neither excessive nor symbolic. It is a legitimate call grounded in today’s geopolitical realities and the urgent need to correct a longstanding injustice,” Lourenco said.

Africa accounts for 1.4 billion people—roughly 17 percent of the global population—and holds nearly a third of seats in the UN General Assembly. Yet, Lourenco pointed out, the continent remains largely excluded from key Security Council decision-making.

“Two decades without tangible progress may challenge the process, but Africa’s unity remains strong and unwavering,” he said, underlining the continent’s persistent commitment to achieving fair and equitable representation.

Lourenco also stressed Africa’s major contributions to international peacekeeping and the fact that Security Council deliberations address African issues in nearly 70 percent of their agenda, yet the continent continues to lack permanent membership and a meaningful voice in these decisions.