NAIROBI, Kenya — United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has backed President William Ruto’s push for reforms at the United Nations Security Council, saying Africa deserves permanent representation to correct historical injustices in global governance.
Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV on Tuesday, Guterres said the current structure of the Security Council no longer reflects modern geopolitical realities.
“In the Security Council, we have three European countries as permanent members, France, the UK, and Russia. We have no African country, no Latin American country, and only one Asian country,” Guterres said.
The UN chief described the absence of African representation as a historical imbalance rooted in colonial-era power structures that shaped international institutions without Africa’s participation.
“It is obvious that this does not correspond anymore to the world of today. So, to have two African countries as permanent members in the Security Council is essential to correct any historic injustice from colonialists,” he added.
Guterres also criticised the representation of developing nations within international financial institutions, including the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
According to the Secretary-General, African and other developing countries remain underrepresented in decision-making structures that shape global economic policy.
“This creates a situation in which the international financial architecture that we have serves the interests of the richest countries,” he stated.
President Ruto has repeatedly called for reforms to the UN system, arguing that Africa should be allocated at least two permanent seats at the Security Council with full veto powers.
Speaking during the Africa Forward Summit on Monday, Ruto said excluding Africa from permanent membership weakens the legitimacy and credibility of multilateral institutions.
“The reform of the United Nations Security Council is essential to addressing longstanding questions of inclusion, fairness, and the credibility of the multilateral system,” Ruto said.
“It is neither practical nor just for a continent of more than 1.5 billion people to remain excluded from permanent representation in decisions that directly affect peace, security, conflict, and global stability.”
President Ruto further argued that Africa’s growing population, economic potential, and geopolitical influence make continued exclusion from permanent global decision-making increasingly untenable.
