Nigeria demands permanent security council seats for Africa at 79th UNGA

Nigeria has demanded for permanent seats for Africa on the United Nations security council.

Mohammed Badaru, minister of defence, who addressed the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Sunday, said Nigeria’s longstanding commitment to international peace and security should make the nation a candidate for one of the seats.

BACKGROUND

Africa has long clamoured for equal representation in what is believed to be the most powerful UN body.

Each year, the UNGA elects five new members from different geographical zones for two-year terms on the council.

Africa has three rotational seats on the 15-member council.

On September 12, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, US ambassador to the UN, said: “The problem is these elected seats don’t enable African countries to deliver the full benefit of their knowledge and voices to the work of the council, to consistently lead on the challenges that affect all of us — and disproportionately affect Africa.”

MAKING THE CASE FOR NIGERIA AND AFRICA

Badaru said since it first deployed troops to the Congo in 1960, Nigeria has contributed to 41 peacekeeping missions globally.

He added that the country has deployed over 200,000 troops in UN operations.

“Nigeria has remained unequivocal in its commitment to international peace building and security, since the first engagement of its troops in the Congo in 1960,” he said.

“To date, Nigeria has contributed to 41 peacekeeping operations worldwide, with over two hundred thousand Nigerian troops serving in UN peacekeeping missions.

“Under the regional and sub-regional cooperation, Nigeria has been involved in peacekeeping operations in field missions in Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, The Gambia, Liberia, Mali, Sudan and Sierra Leone, among others, and has contributed a lot in terms of finance, logistics, troops and civilian experts, making her one of the most significant African troops and police contributors to the United Nations missions.

“It is on this basis that Nigeria continues to call for the reform of the United Nations Security Council to give just representation to Africa on a permanent basis for inclusivity and deepening of global peace and security.”

ARMS PROLIFERATION

The Nigerian defence minister said there is a need for comprehensive strategies to tackle transnational crime and illegal arms trafficking, particularly in the Sahel region.

“We recognise the need for Africa to build strong and professional armies, in order to, among other things, defeat terrorism,” he added.

“Nigeria calls for the operationalisation of the African Standby Force (ASF), and provision of requisite support and resources to ensure the upgrade, take off and effectiveness of a centre of excellence in Africa on issues of counter-terrorism.

“We reiterate the call to strengthen regional and sub-regional cooperation, build capacities of member states, promote cooperation and understanding, as well as defuse tensions, and seek peaceful settlement of disputes to resolve conflicts especially in the Middle-East and Ukraine.”

Badaru warned that unrestricted access to illicit arms by non-state actors exacerbates insecurity and instability.

“The time for action is now, as Nigeria grapples with the complexities of organised crime that threatens regional stability and safety,” he said.

“We must scale up efforts in addressing transnational organised crime and related illegal financial flows through comprehensive strategies, including prevention, early detection, protection and law enforcement, especially in the wake of emerging alliance between bandits and terrorists, including kidnapping for ransom and acts of piracy.

“We seize this opportunity to urge the international community to renew efforts to stem the tide of small arms and light weapons in conflict, especially within the Sahel region where unfettered access by non-state actors to illicit arms and light weapons continues to foster insecurity and instability.”