In her recent announcement, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield expressed support for adding two permanent African seats to the UN Security Council. While this is a positive step toward greater representation for Africa, it falls significantly short of addressing the deeper issues of equality, legitimacy, and power dynamics at the Council. Africa’s demand is not just for a seat at the table, but for real power, including the right to veto—an essential tool wielded by current permanent members. Without this, the offer is merely symbolic and fails to deliver genuine reform.
The veto power is central to the function of the Security Council, as it gives individual states significant control over international decisions. However, the same power has also led to paralysis, as seen in the Council’s inability to act decisively on crises such as the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. Africa, as the second-largest continent in terms of population, has a critical role to play in global peace and security decisions. Yet, without the veto power, African voices will continue to be sidelined in situations that disproportionately affect the continent.
The U.S. opposition to extending veto power to new permanent members, including African states, perpetuates a system where a few countries can block resolutions that the global community might otherwise support. This not only undermines the principle of equality but also reinforces outdated hierarchies established in the aftermath of World War II. The Council’s current structure reflects a world order that no longer exists, and reform without addressing veto power is incomplete.
Furthermore, the effectiveness of the Security Council itself is in question. The veto, while necessary for safeguarding national interests, can also be misused to block actions on important global issues. To improve the Council’s functioning, mechanisms must be created to override vetoes under certain circumstances—perhaps by a supermajority of the General Assembly or non-permanent members. Such reforms would ensure that urgent global security issues, like conflict prevention and climate-induced displacement, are not endlessly stalled due to the geopolitical interests of one or two powerful states.
Africa’s rightful demand is for equal participation in global governance. Merely offering seats without the tools to shape outcomes continues the historical injustice that has left African nations without a meaningful voice on critical decisions affecting their future. Global peace and security cannot be achieved without Africa’s leadership and full participation, including veto power, and mechanisms to limit the abuse of that very power.
True reform of the UN Security Council must include not only the addition of African seats but also the extension of veto power to new members. Without this, the Council remains unbalanced, illegitimate, and ineffective in addressing 21st-century challenges. Africa must be empowered, not just symbolically, but in a way that ensures it can lead and contribute meaningfully to global peace and security.