Global Policy Forum

By Felix Onuah

African foreign ministers failed to break a deadlock on Thursday over which two countries should represent the continent in a reformed U.N. Security Council. The 53-member African Union has agreed to seek two permanent seats and five non-permanent seats on the all-powerful Security Council under the proposed reform, but has yet to set criteria for selecting candidates, let alone make a final decision on who they should be.

Nigeria, South Africa and Egypt -- seen as frontrunners -- are jostling for permanent seats on the Council along with Libya, Kenya and Senegal. After meeting in Abuja, Nigerian Foreign Minister Oluyemi Adeniji said ministers had reached a consensus on some issues relating to the reform, but that the decision on candidates would be taken by heads of state next month. "That is not within our powers. It is the heads of state that will decide that at their summit," he said, referring to a summit planned in Libya next month.

The choice of candidates has opened up deep regional divisions largely based around colonial divisions between Francophone and Anglophone countries in the world's poorest continent. "Whatever may be the African position, whatever may be the offer we may have, if the continent is not united we may never be able to win," said Alpha Oumar Konare, AU Commission chairperson, earlier in opening remarks at the meeting in Abuja. "The strength of the continent is the ability to speak with one voice and its ability to act together."

The world body is considering two competing reform proposals to expand the all-powerful Security Council from five permanent and 10 elected members to a total of 24. The proposal favoured by Africa suggests adding six new permanent members -- including two from Africa -- plus three new non-permanent members for a two-year term. The second option is to add eight seats in a new class of members who would serve for four years, and one non-permanent two-year seat.

Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States are the only countries with permanent representation on the Security Council and the power to single-handedly halt a UN resolution. The African Union had previously demanded three permanent seats on the Council and also insisted on veto rights for the new members, but the proposals have made little headway. Brazil, Japan, Germany and India on Wednesday dropped demands for veto rights in their efforts to become permanent members of the enlarged council.

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