Chad Demands Permanent African Seats At UN Security Council

By Asefon Opeyemi Chris

Chad has tasked the United Nations, UN on ensuring that African states get permanent seats at the intergovernmental organization security souncil. 

Making the demand at the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA77), Chad's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Awatif El Tidjani Ahmed Koiboro, said it would "correct an historic injustice" and help countries in the G5 Sahel.

She said: "On the reform of the Security Council, the body responsible for peace and international security, Chad once again urges member states to move from rhetoric to action in order to achieve the said reform and correct the historic injustice towards the African continent, which excludes it from full and equal participation in this body."

It is worthwhile to note that the Security Council is the only UN body that can make legally binding decisions like imposing sanctions and authorizing use of force. It has five permanent veto-wielding members: the United States, Britain, France, China and Russia.

The African continent usually has two to three non-permanent seats on the Security Council, currently held by Kenya, Tunisia and Niger.

Speaking on internal situation of the Sahel region, Chad regretted Mali's recent withdrawal from the G5 Sahel, stressing that Bamako is a founding member of the joint force. 

"We will not be able to defeat terrorism, stabilise and develop the Sahel, without a common fight and pooling of resources," said Ms Koiboro. 

"We hope that our Malian brothers will reconsider their decision and rejoin our common organization. The door of the G5 Sahel is always wide open to welcome them," she added. 

In December last year the UN and the African Union pledged to work together with the G5 Sahel and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to improve security and governance.