Africa seeks permanent seats on UN Security Council News
Africa seeks permanent seats on UN Security Council

[JURIST] African leaders Tuesday approved a resolution at the fifth African Union Summit [official website] seeking two permanent seats on the expanding UN Security Council [official website]. The AU is calling for the number of Council seats be increased from 15 to 26, with six of the new members granted permanent seats with veto rights; two of the other permanent seats to go to Asia, one to Latin America and Caribbean and one to Western Europe and the remaining non-permanent seats will go to Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America and Caribbean. No African country currently holds a Council seat. Japan, Brazil, India, and Germany, aka the G-4 nations, are seeking four permanent seats for themselves on the Security Council and have requested that their resolution [PDF, draft], which also offers Africa two permanent seats, be voted on in July [JURIST report]. The US supports expanding the Security Council [JURIST report] by "two or so" permanent members, saying any more may hinder the Council's efficiency. Reuters has more.