Remove historical injustice

By Abdelmonem Fawzi

“Friends, get rid of all those ugly sounds,” Ludwig van Beethoven said in his Ninth Symphony.

Beethoven’s performance was in Vienna in May 1824.The context of the performance was considered a powerful symbol of solidarity; social equality; peace, and human values. It was understood as an act of resistance.

The same symphony can also act as a cry against the current genocide against the Palestinian people.

However, the aggravating calamity of the Palestinians just proves that those who should make peace are becoming the bane of this peace.

The situation in the Palestinian territories is becoming alarming. In fact, it continues to deteriorate.

Obviously, the Security Council has become dysfunctional. Even before the current crisis, the council had never been fully functional.

At the height of the Cold War, bilateral contacts and negotiations between the two super powers of the time were what brought the war to an end.

At the end, the lack of trust in the potential of multilateral solutions is growing. The five permanent members of the council, which should contribute to world peace and security, have indeed become the source of the problem.

The veto power allows these countries to enjoy special privileges. This power helped them evade their responsibility towards world peace and security.

The realities of the 21st century call for reforming and expanding the Security Council. This reform and expansion has to reverse the historical injustice done Africa by denying the continent permanent seats in the council.

As the momentum towards a new Pact of the Future is buzzing on the continent, the African Union Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) organized a virtual consultation on the Common African Position on the UN Security Council reforms, in collaboration with several bodies, including CSOs and the AUC-PAPS & the PANPAPS CSOs/Think-Tanks on AU C-10 UNSC Reform, Media and Academia.

The consultation aimed to support and popularize the Ezulwini Consensus, a position on international relations and reform of the United Nations, agreed by the African Union.

The Common African Position on the UNSC Reform was adopted by the AU Member States in 2005 and it calls for allocating two seats in the permanent category with all its prerogatives and privileges, including the right of veto, and additional three non-permanent ones.

The consultation came ahead of the ministerial meeting in Algiers, Algeria, next month.

The African Position on the UNSC Reform led to the establishment of a committee of ten Heads of State and Government (known as the C-10), which is coordinated by the Republic of Sierra Leone.

The C-10 has been at the forefront of efforts for the implementation of the African Common Position.

During the consultation, Ambassador BankoleAdeoye, commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS) of the African Union stated that theunion has been a fundamental actor in the enforcement of peace and security on the continent.

However, the challenges posed by Africa’s limited representation in the UNSC restrict the AU’s ability to deliver effective and concrete conflict resolution.

He added that the quest for the UN Security Council Reform is a legitimate demand as we make effort to support conflict resolution in Africa.

It is impossible to disassociate this quest from peace operations, largely concentrated on the continent and implemented by the UN Security Council, he said.

During recent decades, Africa has been the main topic dealt with by the UNSC.

Interaction between Africa and the UN’s main decision-making forum is currently vital for addressing and resolving conflicts on the continent.

Ambassador Bankole also highlighted latest developments on the implementation of the roadmap, which was adopted in November 2023 in the Republic of Equatorial Guinea.

It remains to be said that the world is in a state of economic and social chaos and undergoing radical and disruptive changes at an accelerating speed.

In the meantime, we realize that efforts are continuing at the United Nations by various groups among whom are the Africa Group, the group calling itself United for Consensus and the Group of Four, to promote their interests by securing positions in the Security Council.

The problem is that the hands of member states are tied by Article 108 and 109 of the Charter which make it impossible to amend the Charter without the consent of the Permanent Five.

Article 109 allows the convening of a general conference by a two-thirds vote of members for reviewing the present Charter, but as in Article 108, any change of the Present Charter requires agreement by all members of the Security Council.

The key question is that will the Permanent Five allow amendments of the Charter to proceed despite the creation of an impression to the contrary?

Let us be honest, we are not in good shape to build a united approach in matters of world affairs and speak with one voice, especially where there is a strong national interest, such as security issues and conflict situations.

Our demand, our wishes and our recommendations would be taken seriously when we also work hard in putting our house in order.

There is no other way to ensure that our interests are promoted or protected.