Morocco is interested in becoming a permanent Security Council member, as part of a reform that will give Africa two seats in the UN’s most influential organ.
“The Kingdom is eligible to become a member of the Security Council because, quite simply, the fundamental criterion for membership is to contribute to peace and security in the world, particularly by contributing to peacekeeping forces,” Moroccan UN envoy Omar Hilale told state news agency MAP.
“Morocco is best placed to represent Africa in the Council,” he said.
African states have for long urged a reform of the Security Council to address the underrepresentation of the continent in global governance. The proposal is backed by the UN chief and the US as well as most of the global south.
Morocco has been one of the leading African contributors to peacekeeping in the continent sending blue helmets to Cote D’Ivoire, Somalia, DRC and CAR as well as a contribution to peacekeeping in Kosovo.
The Kingdom has also forged win-win ties with most of Africa cooperating on key issues such as resilient and sustainable farming, banking, infrastructure and education.
The arguments in favor of increasing African membership in the council are: repairing the historical injustice of its underrepresentation in global governance, recognizing African contributions in shaping the contemporary world order, and securing the legitimacy of the UN in the face of emerging threats to international peace and security.