Too few powers control global security – South Africa

President Cyril Ramaphosa has described the current approach to world peace as unjust, unfair, and unsustainable

The world’s security should not be left to “a few major powers,” South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has insisted. In his first major speech since attending the UN General Assembly, he called for reforms at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Ramaphosa made the remarks during an address to South Africans on Monday about the “Pact for the Future,” adopted by the UN, in which he stressed that sustainable development can only be achieved through inclusive and responsive multilateral institutions.

“The current approach to world peace is unjust, unfair and unsustainable. The UN Security Council must therefore be more representative of the current membership of the United Nations,” the South African leader stated.

On IMF reforms, Ramaphosa cited the Covid-19 pandemic response as an example, claiming that it exposed serious flaws in the international financial architecture.

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“Onerous lending requirements and overly bureaucratic systems meant that many poorer countries were unable to get help when they needed it most,” he said, adding that the cost of debt servicing has diverted much-needed funds for development in many African and Global South countries.

South Africa is one of several countries, including Brazil, India, Germany, and Japan, vying for a permanent seat in the UNSC. The Security Council currently comprises 15 member states, including five permanent members with veto power and ten non-permanent members elected for two-year terms. The 55-nation African Union (AU) has also long sought permanent membership in the UNSC.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, a longtime advocate for Africa’s proper representation on the council, has said all five permanent members of the UNSC – Russia, the US, the UK, China, and France – support the continent’s demand. Russian President Vladimir Putin has also stated repeatedly that an AU seat at the UN body and the G20 would reflect the desire of African nations to have their voices strongly heard. The AU was formally admitted to the G20 group of leading economies during the bloc’s summit in New Delhi, India, last year.

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Last week, the foreign ministers of Brazil, India, and South Africa expressed “frustration with the paralysis” regarding UNSC reform negotiations when they met on the sidelines of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly in New York. The diplomats claimed that the restructuring efforts have “failed” to reflect the majority support among UN member states for expanding Security Council membership.

On Monday, Ramaphosa pledged that his government will prioritize the “needs and aspirations” of Africa and the Global South when Pretoria takes over the G20 presidency in 2025.

“As a signatory to the Pact for the Future, we want people-driven, sustainable development to become a reality,” the South African leader stated.

According to him, the treaty provides an opportunity not only to bridge the development gap but also to “reinvigorate the multilateral system” and move forward with the “long-overdue reform of global governance architecture, including the UN Security Council.”

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