The Kenyan President on Monday 17th November 2014 called on the United Nations (UN) for the democratization of the UN Security Council in a bid to allow Africa to have a say in the global organization. President Uhuru Kenyatta made the call at the preparatory meeting of the African Union Committee of Ten (C-10) Foreign Ministers and Permanent Representatives in New York and Addis Ababa which took place in Nairobi, Kenya. In his opening statement, he said that the current composition of the Security Council must be reformed to make Africa’ s voice heard in the Council. The Security Council is the principal organ responsible for maintaining international peace and security-best exemplifies a structure that is not compatible with the current realities of the world, he said.
President Kenyatta pointed out that the current composition of the Security Council does not reflect the current world power distribution and geo-political situation. The inequality and lack of democracy in UN representation had led to inconsistencies, inefficiency and marginalization of the world’s vulnerable communities, and severely betrayed its largest constituency in the less developed countries, he noted. The Kenyan President accused Western superpowers of turning a blind eye to Africa.
Dr. Samura Kamara (R) welcoming President Kenyatta
The leader of Sierra Leone’s delegation and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Dr. Samura Kamara in his welcome address gave a comprehensive overview of the current state of play of the United Nations Security Council Reform process. He stated that Sierra Leone as Coordinator plus the nine other C-10 member countries are entrusted with the task of canvassing support for the African Common Position as enshrined in the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration. These two documents he emphasized, seek to correct the historical injustice done to Africa for not being represented in the permanent membership of the UN Security Council. Dr. Samura Kamara said that Africa is requesting for two Seats in the permanent category of the United Nations Security Council plus an increase in Africa’s representation in the non-permanent category. Today more than ever is the time for Africa to unite in purpose and action to increase its voice and participation at the highest decision making levels in global governance, Dr. Kamara stated.
Other members in the Foreign Minister’s delegation included: Ambassador Osman Keh Kamara, Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the African Union; Ambassador Andrew G. Bangali, Director General and Ambassador-At- Large at the Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation; Ambassador Vandi Chidi Minah, Sierra Leone’ s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York; Mr. Sullay Mannah Kpukumu, Director, Policy and Research in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; Mr. Victor Sheriff, Acting Director of Protocol; Mrs. Juliana Fallah, First Secretary and C-10 Expert in the Embassy of the Republic of Sierra Leone in Addis Ababa and Mr. Saidu Nallo, Counsellor and C-10 Expert at the Sierra Leone Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York.
The C-10 meeting in Nairobi which was a further consultation and stock-taking exercise was preceded by the first ever Summit of the African Union Committee of Ten Heads of State and Government on United Nations Security Council Reform, held in the Republic of Congo, which was chaired by His Excellency President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma, Coordinator of the C-10 Heads of State.
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