Russia Says Africa's Underrepresentation in United Nations Security Council Unacceptable by Any Standard

Addis Ababa October 20 /2022/ENA/ The denial of permanent seat for Africa in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is unacceptable by any standard, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Denying Africa, which is home to many people with rich natural resources, a permanent seat in the security council shows that there is still colonial feeling, the ministry noted.

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Maria Zakharova held interview with 15 journalists from African media institution, including the Ethiopian News Agency, on current issues.

It is unfair and inappropriate for African and Asian countries not to have permanent seats in the United Nations Security Council, she underscored.

The spokesperson said it is inappropriate to deny Africa, which has a large population, natural resources and significant contribution to the world economy, a permanent representation in the UNSC.

Zakharova stressed that there should be an opportunity for Africa to have a permanent seat in the council so that it could be heard.

"It is absolutely unacceptable for Africa to be a bystander on a grand platform where its own issues are decided," the spokesperson underlined.

This is a manifestation of that there is still a colonial mentality towards Africa, she noted.  

Russia has a firm stand that Africa should have a permanent seat in the UN Security Council, according to the spokesperson.

She also explained that the root causes of most of the conflicts in Africa are the disputes and conflicts left behind by colonial rulers.

Therefore, the freedom of Africans should be respected as they have the ability to solve problems in Africa by themselves, Zakharova underlined.

Russia believes that the African Union is an institution with the capacity to independently deal with issues of Africans by its own.