A Historic Injustice

African leaders have intensified their long-standing demand for fundamental reform of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), calling for at least two permanent seats with full veto powers and an expansion of non-permanent seats for the continent. Speaking at the 7th African Union-European Union Summit in Luanda on Monday, November 24, 2025, and at recent UN General Assemblies, figures across the continent have argued that the council's current structure is an anachronism, reflecting the geopolitical realities of 1945 rather than the 21st century. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has endorsed the bid, describing the correction of Africa's exclusion as addressing a "historic injustice."

The unified African position is grounded in the 2005 Ezulwini Consensus and the subsequent Sirte Declaration, which demand two permanent seats with all the prerogatives of current permanent members—including the right to veto—and five non-permanent seats. This consensus, adopted by the African Union (AU), highlights that the continent was largely under colonial rule when the UN was founded and thus had no say in the architecture of global security. With 54 member states, Africa now constitutes the largest regional bloc within the UN, and a significant portion of the Security Council's agenda, including a majority of its peacekeeping operations, is focused on African conflicts.

Kenya's Diplomatic Offensive

Kenya has emerged as a forceful advocate for this reform. President William Ruto, in a recent address to the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, declared Africa's exclusion "unacceptable, unfair and grossly unjust." He argued that the UN's credibility is at stake, stating, "You cannot claim to be the United Nations while disregarding the voice of 54 nations." President Ruto has consistently stressed that Africa's involvement in peacekeeping, conflict mediation, and resource provision is not matched by its influence in decision-making processes that directly affect its stability and future. This diplomatic push aligns with Kenya's broader foreign policy goals, which include championing multilateralism and seeking African solutions to African problems, a role it has sought to play during its recent non-permanent term on the council (2021-2022).

The Geopolitics of Reform

The path to reform is fraught with geopolitical complexity. Any amendment to the UN Charter requires the approval of two-thirds of the General Assembly and, critically, must be ratified by all five permanent members (P5): China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. This gives each P5 member an effective veto over any proposed changes.

Support from the P5 has been varied and conditional:

• The United States announced in September 2024 its support for creating two permanent seats for African states, but explicitly ruled out extending veto rights to new members. This proposal has been viewed by some African analysts as creating a "second-class" membership status.
• The United Kingdom has backed permanent African representation alongside seats for Germany, Japan, Brazil, and India, but also does not support extending the veto.
• France has consistently supported a greater presence for African nations, including among permanent members, and has proposed a framework to regulate the use of the veto in cases of mass atrocities.
• Russia has stated its support for Africa's bid is essential to rectify "historical injustice" and make the council more representative of a multipolar world, though it insists the veto power must be preserved for all permanent members to ensure balanced decisions.
• China has expressed rhetorical support for Africa's aspirations and greater role in global governance, but its specific stance on the veto for new African members remains ambiguous.

Implications for Kenya and East Africa

For Kenya, a reformed Security Council with permanent African members could fundamentally alter the dynamics of regional security. A permanent seat would provide the continent with a powerful platform to shape responses to conflicts in nations like Sudan, Somalia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo—crises where Kenya has significant security and economic interests. It would allow for greater African agency in authorizing peacekeeping missions, imposing sanctions, and mediating peace deals, potentially leading to solutions that are more aligned with regional priorities and less influenced by the strategic interests of external powers.

However, the reform process itself presents challenges. The Ezulwini Consensus stipulates that the African Union would select its representatives, but the question of which nations would occupy the seats remains a sensitive and unresolved issue, with regional powers like Nigeria, South Africa, and Egypt often cited as leading candidates. Despite this internal complexity, the unified demand for representation continues to gain momentum, framed not as a request for a favor, but as a necessary condition for the UN's continued relevance and legitimacy in the 21st century.