El-Sissi urges UN Security Council reforms for Africa's larger role

CAIRO — Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi on Saturday reiterated calls for structural changes in the United Nations Security Council to grant Africa a larger role in shaping global decisions. El-Sissi made the plea for a “more pluralistic” world order at the Russia-Africa partnership conference in Cairo, which was attended by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and ministers from more than 50 African countries along with representatives from several African and regional organizations.

The voice of Africa should be present and influential in making global decisions given the continent’s human, economic, political and demographic weight, el-Sissi said in a statement read by his foreign minister at the plenary session of the conference. He added that international financial institutions need to undergo similar reforms to ensure Africa an equitable representation.

The African Union has been pressing since 2005 for at least two permanent seats with veto powers and five non-permanent seats on the Security Council, arguing such reforms would help stabilize wars that have raged on the continent for decades. But African states have yet to agree on a mechanism to select permanent representatives.

“We have decided to continue coordinating our efforts in various multilateral forums, including with the aim of promoting reform of the U.N. Security Council, taking into account the legitimate interests of African states,” Lavrov told reporters during a joint news conference with his Egyptian counterpart.

The Security Council, charged with maintaining international peace and security, has not changed from its 1945 configuration: 10 non-permanent members from all regions of the world elected for two-year terms without veto power, and five permanent members — the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France — with veto power.

Lavrov said the ministerial conference launched talks aimed at developing an action plan for cooperation for 2026-2029, which will be presented to heads of state at next year’s Russia-Africa summit.

“We remain a reliable partner for African states in strengthening their national sovereignty, both politically and in matters of security, as well as in other dimensions,” Lavrov said.

The forum has gained momentum since the 2023 Russia-Africa summit in St. Petersburg, where President Vladimir Putin sought the support of African leaders and to break the political and economic isolation imposed on Russia by Western countries following its invasion of Ukraine. Russia has since expanded its military footprint in Africa, delivering sophisticated weaponry to sub-Saharan conflict zones, including a Kremlin-controlled military unit that replaced the Wagner mercenaries.