02 Sep Japan pushes for Africa to have seat on the UN Security Council

Japan is pushing for Africa to have a permanent seat at the UN Security Council, and will use its place to push the position.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told the Tokyo International Conference on African Development in Tunisia: “Japan reiterates its determination to redress the historical injustice against Africa of not being represented through a permanent membership on the Security Council.”

He added: “In order for the UN to work effectively for peace and stability, there is an urgent need to strengthen the UN as a whole through Security Council reform.”

In June, Japan was one of the five countries elected to hold a non-permanent seat on the UNSC for the years 2023 and 2024.

The UNSC is made up of 15 members, five of whom are permanent and have veto-wielding power: the United States, Russia, China, France and the United Kingdom. The other 10 positions are filled by countries for two-year stints, five of which are announced each year.