A top South African minister today demanded two seats for Africa on the powerful UN Security Council.
"There is no region in the world whose agenda is solidly on the reform of the Security Council than Africa," Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, the International Relations Minister, told delegates at a business briefing breakfast organised by the daily The New Age here.
"At every AU summit there is a standing agenda item on the UN reform where the Committee reports to us. Those outside the continent agree that when reform comes, Africa must get two seats, one permanent and another non-permanent. The time has come and that time is now," Nkoana-Mashabane said.
The minister also explained how leaders gathered at the 50th anniversary summit of the AU in Ethiopia last week had agreed that the time had come for Africa to solve its own problems.
"Africa is rising because 10 of the fastest growing economies in the world come from Africa," Nkoane-Mashabane said.
The 15-member UNSC is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security. China, France, Russia, Britain and the US are the five veto-wielding permanent members of the UNSC.
There are also 10 non-permanent members, with five elected each year to serve two-year terms.
