President William Ruto renewed call for Africa inclusion in the permanent membership of the UN Security Council at the 81st UN General Assembly in New York — his second push in 3 days.
Speaking on Wednesday, he argued the Security Council no longer reflects the modern world:
Ruto stated: "Every nation in this hall has one vote. Every nation is sovereign and equal under the Charter. Yet on the gravest questions of war and peace, five nations possess a permanent power that the other 188 do not."
"The equality proclaimed in this Assembly ends at the doors of the Security Council," Ruto further added.
Key points made by President William Ruto
1. Africa's exclusion: Africa has 54 Member States, more than a quarter of the Assembly, "yet no permanent voice in the body entrusted with the primary responsibility for international peace and security". "We are frequently the subject of its decisions, permanently discussed but permanently excluded."
2. 1.4 billion people on the margins: At the Partners for Multilateralism Summit on Monday, he said "A continent of 54 countries and more than 1.4 billion people cannot remain at the margins of decisions central to global peace and security."
3. Historical roots: The structure dates to 1945 when "much of Africa remained under colonial rule and only four African countries were represented at the San Francisco conference"
4. What Kenya/AU wants: Equitable and permanent representation "with all the prerogatives and privileges of permanent membership" including veto power. This aligns with the African Union's Ezulwini Consensus: at least 2 permanent seats with full rights + 2 additional non-permanent seats.
Ruto also framed it as a legitimacy issue, not just fairness: "The world has transformed. The Council has not. We cannot manage transformation with institutions that refuse to transform themselves," and "International law cannot be a shield for some and a restraint for others."
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