During his speech at the 7th Summit of the AU Committee of Heads of State and Government on Security Council Reform, the president stressed that the continent has the right to be a member of that body, with all its prerogatives, including the right of veto, the Angolan press reported.

Lourenco stated at the meeting, held in New York this Sunday, that to ensure a fair and equitable representation, African countries should also have five non-permanent seats, so that Africa ceases to be an object of the Council’s decisions and becomes an active member.

“This demand is neither excessive nor symbolic, but rather the expression of a legitimate right based on the current geopolitical reality that demands the correction of this injustice,” the AU chairperson stated, according to the Angola Press agency.

He mentioned the continent’s demographic weight, with more than 1.4 billion people, approximately 17 percent of the world’s population, and almost a third of the seats in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Lourenco also alluded to Africa’s contribution to Peacekeeping Operations and the fact that the Security Council addresses the situation in Africa in approximately 70 percent of its agenda, but the continent is not a permanent member and, therefore, part of its decisions.

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