United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday, May 11, renewed calls for reforms to global institutions, insisting Africa must be granted permanent representation on the UN Security Council.
Speaking in Nairobi during the ground-breaking ceremony for a $340-million expansion of the UN’s Kenyan Campus, Guterres described the lack of permanent African seats on the Security Council as a “historic injustice”.
He said reforms were necessary to ensure global institutions reflect modern geopolitical realities rather than the world order established 80 years ago, after World War II.
Antonio Guterres acknowledged that Security Council reform would be difficult because it requires agreement from the five permanent members — Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States — whose veto powers could be diluted by the changes.
The UN chief also defended plans to expand operations in Nairobi, saying relocating staff from New York and Geneva to Kenya would help cut costs. The Nairobi Campus currently hosts more than 80 UN Offices and over 4,000 staff members.
The cost-cutting measures come as the United States has reduced contributions to the UN under President Donald Trump, and signalled the possibility of further funding cuts.