Raila Odinga has made a case for his push to have the African continent have a say in the United Nations Security Council.
Noting the rampancy in political and civil conflicts on the continent, the former prime minister of Kenya argued that it was time the continent got represented in the security council.
He argued his case during the Mjadala Afrika debate on Friday, December 13, where he faced off with his two competitors in the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship.
Raila observed that the lack of the continent's presence in the UN's critical organ was among the causative agents of the incessant conflicts in the region.
He seemed to imply that with Africa's absence in the council, the objective of international peace and security would not be realised.
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Raila, therefore, stated that should he win the AUC vote, he will seek to have an opportunity for the African continent to contribute to the critical decisions made at the security council.
According to him, with its growing population and advancement post-colonialism, Africa is ripe to seat in the critical organ.
He said his aim would be to secure two permanent seats with veto powers in the council.
"The issue of Africa’s representation in the Security Council is long overdue. As you know, the UN was formed when most parts of Africa were colonies, which is why the UN structure does not deal with the realities of the world today. Africa must get two permanent seats in the UN Security Council. This is only fair.
I am not going to talk about Africa's representation, but we are going to insist that Africa get two permanent seats in the UN Security Council. This is only fair because we are a continent of 55 sovereign nations. We cannot be excluded when Europe has three permanent representatives on the Security Council. Permanent representation with veto powers is a must for Africa, and this I am going to insist on when I am elected. I'll work together with all the continent's leadership," he said.
The Kenyan candidate is seeking to succeed Moussa Faki, who has been at the helm of the African Union (AU) secretariat for eight years since 2017.
Others in the race are Djibouti's long-serving Foreign Affairs Minister Mahamoud Youssouf and Madagascar's former Foreign Affairs Minister Richard Randriamandrato.
The vote will be taken in February 2025; only heads of state will be allowed to vote.
A candidate will need support by consensus or at least a two-thirds majority vote by member states.
