Africa’s Representation in the Security Council: Algeria pleads to right the historical wrong inflicted on the continent

NEW YORK – The Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Community Abroad, Mr. Lounès Magramane reiterated Monday in New York, Algeria’s conviction regarding the need for the Security Council of UN. today, with the African voice, calling for the need to right the historic wrong inflicted on the continent which lacks efficient representation on the Council.

Magramane was speaking while participating in a high-level debate at the UN Security Council titled “Righting the historic wrong and strengthening the efficient representation of Africa in the UN Security Council”, chaired by President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Mr. Julius Maada Bio, in his capacity as President of the Security Council for the month of August 2024.

At the start of his speech, Mr. Magramane conveyed the greetings of the President of the Republic, Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune as well as his best wishes for success in this debate, to his Sierra Leonean counterpart, coordinator of the Committee of Ten of the African Union (C10), on the reform of the United Nations Security Council.

Magramane presented an analysis of the regional and international situation, fraught with challenges and risks threatening international peace and security, in the face of “an almost total paralysis of the UN Security Council incapable of putting an end to or slowing down, at least, fait accompli policies and unilateral measures.”

The African continent has “suffered so much from this sad reality which imposes itself particularly in the Sahel region”, he lamented, recalling in the same context “the continued suffering of the people of the territory of Western Sahara occupied for more than 50 years, and the tragedy experienced by our Palestinian brothers whose situation is worsening, day by day, in view of the genocidal war waged by the occupation authorities against the Palestinian people for more than 10 consecutive months, due to of the Security Council’s inability to deter the Israeli occupier from its crimes.

Magramane further expressed “Algeria’s conviction as to the need of the Security Council today for the African voice, the voice of wisdom, commitment and responsibility”, recalling the African position based on the principles contained in the “Ezulwini Consensus” and the “Sirte Declaration”, being the sole and main frame of reference.

Furthermore, the representative of Algeria reviewed in his speech the results which crowned the 11th ministerial meeting of the Committee of Ten Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU), hosted by the Algeria last June, which called for righting the historic wrong inflicted on the African continent, being the only continent not enjoying the status of permanent member of the Security Council and the least represented in the category of non-permanent members within this organ.

The conclusions of this meeting also highlighted the need to restore the effectiveness of the Security Council and its capacity to act in the face of the growing risks that threaten international peace and security.

The results also highlighted the need to include all issues relating to the Council’s working methods and the use of the right of veto in the reform of the UN Security Council.

Permanent members must, for their part, expressly display their support and commitment to the reform process by concretely responding to the legitimate aspirations of the African continent. The SG of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Community Abroad, reaffirmed Algeria’s unchanging attachment and commitment to the common African position, as well as its commitment, as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, to be a sincere voice serving the African continent.

This debate saw the participation of the Secretary General of the UN, Antonio Guterres, the President of the General Assembly of the United Nations Dennis Francis, in addition to several other ministers and senior officials.

APS