Wed Sep 25 04:00:00 UTC 2024: ## South Africa Calls for Global Governance Reform at UN Summit
**New York, NY** – South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has delivered a powerful call for reform of the United Nations’ global governance structures, particularly the Security Council, during his closing remarks at the UN’s Summit of the Future.
Ramaphosa asserted that the current system, which concentrates power in the hands of a few, is “unjust, unfair, and unsustainable.” He emphasized the need for inclusivity, urging the newly adopted “Pact of the Future” to “represent the views, concerns, and interests of the Global South.”
The issue of Security Council reform has long been a priority for the African Union (AU), which has advocated for two permanent seats for African nations with full veto powers, including the right to block non-procedural decisions. However, despite the AU’s Ezulwini Consensus adopted in 2005, little progress has been made.
The United States recently proposed adding two permanent seats to the Security Council for African nations, but without veto power. This proposal has been met with skepticism in Africa, with critics arguing that it merely maintains the existing power imbalance.
South Africa, seen as a strong voice for the Global South, is well-positioned to advocate for change due to its history and democratic system.
While the emergence of the BRICS group, which now includes Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the UAE, has raised concerns in the West about a potential fracture in the international system, experts suggest that BRICS is not aiming to replace the UN but rather seeks to reform it.
Despite the challenges, the UN remains the world’s central governance organization, and there is a consensus on the need for its continued existence. However, the call for greater representation and inclusivity remains strong, particularly from the Global South.
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