The United Nations Secretary-General has once again called for reform of the institution to increase African representation. Speaking on Monday at the groundbreaking ceremony for the expansion of the UN campus in Kenya, António Guterres emphasized the need for a fundamental overhaul of global institutions dating back 80 years, so that they better reflect the world as it is today.
“It is a great pleasure to celebrate these two significant milestones in the United Nations’ presence in Africa and in our shared journey towards a more inclusive and forward-looking multilateralism. The groundbreaking ceremony for the new Assembly Hall and the inauguration of the new administrative buildings symbolize our collective ambition. They also reaffirm the central role that Africa, and Kenya in particular, plays in the life and future of the United Nations,” said Antonio Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General.
Over the years, Mr. Guterres has repeatedly called for change to give Africa and other regions greater representation at the UN. But this demand has made little progress, as it requires the five permanent members of the Security Council – Britain, China, France, Russia, and the United States – to agree to dilute their own power.
As we celebrate the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, we are rethinking how we work, act, and lead. And we are doing so by recognizing the role of this great continent. Africa is a driver of solutions, a source of innovation, and a voice of moral clarity in our shared pursuit of peace and security, sustainable development, and human rights.” When asked by AFP about a realistic roadmap for Security Council reform, Mr. Guterres replied that it would be “difficult ,” added UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
When asked by AFP about a realistic roadmap for reforming the Security Council, Mr. Guterres replied that it would be "difficult".
The campus, which was originally a regional center for the UN's divisions dealing with the environment and housing, has grown to now house more than 80 of its offices and over 4,000 employees.
