Two African states win UN Security Council seats
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) and Liberia have secured seats in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) as non-permanent members, following a vote at the General Assembly in New York.
In a single round of balloting on Tuesday, the DR Congo received 183 votes and Liberia secured 181, both surpassing the required two-thirds majority in the 193-member assembly, according to a UN press release.
The election filled five available non-permanent seats, with Bahrain (186 votes), Latvia (178 votes), and Colombia (180 votes) also elected to represent their respective regional groups.
The two African countries are replacing Algeria and Sierra Leone, which have been serving since 2024. Along with the other elected counterparts, they will join the global security organization in January 2026 and serve until the end of 2027.
The vote comes amid renewed calls for reform of the Security Council's structure to better reflect current global dynamics. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has advocated for the allocation of a permanent seat for Africa, arguing that the continent's longstanding underrepresentation is a 'historical injustice.'
The 55-nation African Union has long sought permanent representation in the UNSC. In 2005, the bloc formed the C-10 group, whose primary mission is to present, advocate for, and rally support for the common African position on Security Council reforms.
In an address delivered last August, Guterres stated that Africa's absence among permanent members undermines the UNSC's legitimacy, adding that the continent bears a disproportionate burden of the conflicts the council is tasked with addressing.
Russia has voiced similar support, with President Vladimir Putin stating that a seat for the African Union would affirm its members' aspiration to be meaningfully represented in global decision-making.
The Security Council, composed of 15 members, includes five permanent members – China, France, Russia, the US, and UK – and ten non-permanent members elected for two-year terms. The permanent members hold veto power over substantive resolutions, while the non-permanent members take part fully in deliberations and voting but do not have veto rights.
The DR Congo is joining the Council at a time of intensified armed conflict in its eastern region, where clashes between national forces and the M23 rebel group have escalated since January. The militants have seized major cities, including Goma and Bukavu, reportedly killing thousands of people. In a report published on Tuesday, Human Rights Watch said the rebels 'summarily executed' at least 21 civilians over a two-day period in February in Goma.
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