PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
AU Summit approves sweeping powers on UN reform agenda
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (PANA) – The African Union Summit has approved a comprehensive set of reforms to the UN Security Council, retaining the power to elect or select countries to occupy five non-permanent seats and two permanent seats with all powers including veto to represent the continent at the powerful world body.
The AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government rose from its 10-11 Feb. Summit on Monday with a resolve to continue demanding the Security Council authorises adequate financing for the peacekeeping and enforcement operations in Africa and acknowledged progress in talks to include its request for fair representation.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, the AU President, identified the push for fair representation at the Security Council among the key agenda issues of his Presidency in 2019. He said the AU would enhance its cooperation with the world body this year as well as friendship with other regions on equal terms and respect.
The AU decided the right to select the representatives to the Council would remain with its organs. Those selected would then seek to the UN Security Council to act on its behalf.
The Summit therefore urged its Committee of 10 Heads of State and Government under the leadership of Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio to continue reaching out to the five permanent members of the Security Council at the highest political levels to advance the AU common position on the Security Council.
Accordingly, the Summit placed a request to all its members to call for comprehensive reform of the Security Council in their national statements in concise language during the Sept. 2019 UN General Assembly.
The Summit also recommended the countries include the UN reforms as part of their foreign policy priorities in engagements with foreign partners to end the delay and the “injustice that Africa continues to endure”.
Earlier, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres confirmed holding talks with the African leaders during the AU Summit to “correct the situation” by creating the necessary conditions for the holding of the reform dialogue.
The UN Secretary-General’s statement is the most emphatic ever acknowledgement since the AU began its push for permanent UN Security Council seats.
“It is clear Africa is under represented in the Security Council. We discussed the issues to create the conditions for dialogue to restore the situation,” Guterres told reporters on Sunday in Addis Ababa.
In a report presented to the Summit which was approved as part of the 2019 AU agenda of political engagement, President Bio said the push for the inclusion of the AU was unchallenged at the UN.
President Bio informed the Summit of progress in the talks for the inclusion of the AU membership of the Security Council and the challenge posed by some of the 5 permanent members seeking to shift the financial burden to the African countries seeking permanent seats in the Council.
President Bio’s briefing shows expanding the Security Council is meeting silent opposition especially on the call to abolish the veto powers, curtailing its use and a call that Africa should name the candidates to occupy the position. There is also a proposal to suspend debate on the veto powers for 15 years against the AU position.
The Summit was informed questions remained on whether the AU representatives would be holding country-specific seats or would be representing the region. There are also those seeking to enlarge the 15 member council to include non-permanent seats only with longer terms of office.
“These varied and divergent positions on both process and substantive issues create a situation of a seeming impasse, which makes it difficult to make tangible progress on the reform of the Council,” President Bio said.
-0- PANA AO/MA 12Feb2019
The AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government rose from its 10-11 Feb. Summit on Monday with a resolve to continue demanding the Security Council authorises adequate financing for the peacekeeping and enforcement operations in Africa and acknowledged progress in talks to include its request for fair representation.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, the AU President, identified the push for fair representation at the Security Council among the key agenda issues of his Presidency in 2019. He said the AU would enhance its cooperation with the world body this year as well as friendship with other regions on equal terms and respect.
The AU decided the right to select the representatives to the Council would remain with its organs. Those selected would then seek to the UN Security Council to act on its behalf.
The Summit therefore urged its Committee of 10 Heads of State and Government under the leadership of Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio to continue reaching out to the five permanent members of the Security Council at the highest political levels to advance the AU common position on the Security Council.
Accordingly, the Summit placed a request to all its members to call for comprehensive reform of the Security Council in their national statements in concise language during the Sept. 2019 UN General Assembly.
The Summit also recommended the countries include the UN reforms as part of their foreign policy priorities in engagements with foreign partners to end the delay and the “injustice that Africa continues to endure”.
Earlier, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres confirmed holding talks with the African leaders during the AU Summit to “correct the situation” by creating the necessary conditions for the holding of the reform dialogue.
The UN Secretary-General’s statement is the most emphatic ever acknowledgement since the AU began its push for permanent UN Security Council seats.
“It is clear Africa is under represented in the Security Council. We discussed the issues to create the conditions for dialogue to restore the situation,” Guterres told reporters on Sunday in Addis Ababa.
In a report presented to the Summit which was approved as part of the 2019 AU agenda of political engagement, President Bio said the push for the inclusion of the AU was unchallenged at the UN.
President Bio informed the Summit of progress in the talks for the inclusion of the AU membership of the Security Council and the challenge posed by some of the 5 permanent members seeking to shift the financial burden to the African countries seeking permanent seats in the Council.
President Bio’s briefing shows expanding the Security Council is meeting silent opposition especially on the call to abolish the veto powers, curtailing its use and a call that Africa should name the candidates to occupy the position. There is also a proposal to suspend debate on the veto powers for 15 years against the AU position.
The Summit was informed questions remained on whether the AU representatives would be holding country-specific seats or would be representing the region. There are also those seeking to enlarge the 15 member council to include non-permanent seats only with longer terms of office.
“These varied and divergent positions on both process and substantive issues create a situation of a seeming impasse, which makes it difficult to make tangible progress on the reform of the Council,” President Bio said.
-0- PANA AO/MA 12Feb2019
