Ambassador Bendjama Calls for Two African Permanent UN Security Council Seats

Algeria's permanent representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Amar Bendjama, called for urgent reform of the UN Security Council during the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York. He advocated for a significant increase in African representation, specifically demanding at least two permanent seats with veto power and five non-permanent seats for the continent within the body.

Ambassador Bendjama highlighted the critical need for this reform, stating that the Security Council's existing structural deficiencies have often limited its effectiveness in addressing pressing challenges to international peace and security, particularly those affecting the African continent. He further noted that the "Pact for the Future," a roadmap for modernizing the UN, also reaffirms the imperative for Security Council reform. Bendjama stressed the responsibility of member states to ensure that the reform process results in a truly representative, effective, and democratic Security Council.

The ambassador emphasized that any reform must prioritize rectifying the "historical injustice" inflicted upon Africa due to its persistent under-representation among both permanent and non-permanent members. Algeria firmly supports Africa's legitimate aspiration for full and equitable representation, asserting that this goal must remain central to any reform effort and align with the common African position outlined in the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration. Bendjama underscored Algeria's unwavering commitment to a comprehensive and meaningful reform of this crucial body, expressing readiness to collaborate constructively with all member states in a collective endeavor to achieve genuine reform.