By Shire Abdi - Reporter
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Nairobi (Dawan Africa) – Somalia backed reform of the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday, saying the body should reflect Africa’s population and role in global security.
Somalia’s position was presented by Foreign Affairs Minister, Abdisalam Abdi during a high-level meeting on reforming the UN Security Council and the use of veto power, held on the sidelines of the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, Kenya.
Somalia's Ambassador to Kenya, Jibril Ibrahim Abdulle, and other senior federal government officials also attended the meeting.
Minister Ali said the reforms were necessary to achieve fair geographical representation and strengthen the voice of developing countries, particularly African nations.
Somalia’s position forms part of the wider African stance, which has long argued that the current structure of the Security Council does not reflect the political realities of the modern world.
Africa, home to more than one billion people and frequently affected by Security Council decisions, still does not have a permanent seat with full powers.
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The Security Council currently consists of five permanent members with veto power — the United States, Russia, China, France and the United Kingdom — and 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms.
African countries argue that this system emerged from the post-World War II order and no longer fully responds to today’s political, economic and security realities.
Somalia said reforming the Security Council is essential to ensure that developing countries have a stronger voice in global decisions, particularly on peace, security, sanctions, peacekeeping operations and conflict resolution.
The Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi also focused on investment in Africa, reforming global financial systems, Africa–France cooperation, and expanding economic opportunities for the continent.
The two-day summit was chaired by France's President Emmanuel Macron and Kenya’s President William Ruto.