Museveni repeats UN Security Council reform calls at 7th summit of C-10
President Museveni expressed satisfaction with the African Union Model on the reform of the UN Security Council as it aligns with the Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration.
Vice-President Jessica Alupo during the meeting at the UN headquarters in New York, in the United States of America on Sunday, September 21, 2025. (Courtesy photos)
By New Vision Journalist
Journalists @New Vision
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The Seventh Summit of the Committee of 10 African Union Heads of State and Government on the reform of the United Nations Security Council has convened at the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York.
During the summit, Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni appreciated the stewardship of Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio and current Chairperson of the C-10, for his unwavering commitment to advancing the common African position on the reform of the United Nations Security Council since its adoption in 2005 and for keeping Africa solidly united.
This was contained in a speech read for him by Vice-President Jessica Alupo during the sideline meeting of the UN General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York, in the United States of America on Sunday, September 21, 2025.
President Museveni said that there is no doubt that the C-10 has made significant progress in promoting, advocating and canvassing support for the common African position through diplomatic engagements with several relevant stakeholders and interest groups within the intergovernmental negotiations’ frameworks and other multilateral levels.
The President added that Uganda remains committed to the mandate given to her by the African Union to promote, advocate and canvas for support of the common African position on the reform of the United Nations Security Council as stipulated in the Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration and added that the C-10 now needs to move the process forward to achieve tangible results.
Model on reforms
President Museveni expressed satisfaction with the African Union Model on the reform of the UN Security Council as it aligns with the Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration.
Vice-President Jessica Alupo with UN secretary general, António Guterres.
He added that Africa must be represented at the UN Security Council by not less than two permanent seats with equal prerogatives and privileges of the permanent membership and two more permanent seats in the non-permanent category.
Museveni said the time is now for the genuine demonstration of the political will by the five permanent members of the UN Security Council to consent to the full reform of the Council to make it more inclusive, just, equitable, transparent, responsive and democratic.
"We reiterate our demand to rectify the historical injustices against Africa, which should not be perpetuated any longer and for Africa to be prioritised as a special case for adequate representation on the UN Security Council,’’ President Museveni said.
Step up building efforts
President Museveni said that Africa needs to step up building efforts for the Africa that is desired in accordance with the vision of the African Union; cohesive, secure, prosperous, united and speaking with one voice on all aspects of the UN Security Council reform process, thus fostering the maintenance of international peace and security for global development.
He added that Africa remains steadfast in the demand for the immediate full reform of the UN Security Council and for Africa to be adequately represented in both permanent and non-permanent categories in line with the common African position, adding that any other postponement of the council’s reform process undermines Africa’s interests, the maintenance of international peace and security and global development.
Historical injustice
Maada Bio, in his opening remarks at the summit, commemorated the 20th anniversary of the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration, which establishes the Common African Position on UN Security Council (UNSC) reform.
President Bio emphasised that Africa's exclusion from the UNSC is a historical injustice and declared that Africa will no longer accept marginalisation and reechoed the continent's demand for fair representation as a matter of justice, and not charity.
President Maada, while referencing his statements during a virtual C-10 summit in July 2025, he reiterated the urgency of reforming the outdated structure of the UNSC to reflect current global realities.
The C-10 Chairman stressed the need to consolidate support for the Common African Position in the ongoing Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) process.
The position calls for two permanent seats with veto power and two additional non-permanent seats for Africa and underscores the importance of unity and strong high-level engagement among African leaders to present a united front and amplify Africa's voice in global governance discussions.
Enhancing Africa's reputation
The members of the African Union of 10 advocating for UN Security Council reform are Algeria, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, Libya, Namibia, the Republic of the Congo (Congo-Brazzaville), Sierra Leone, Senegal, Uganda, and Zambia.
The C-10 was established by the African Union (AU) in 2005 to promote the Common African Position on the reform of the UN Security Council, which aims to enhance Africa's representation and address historical injustice, advocate for Africa's Common Position on the reform of the UN Security Council and other issues of global governance, as well as to promote education, science, and technology for the continent's development.
These summits serve as platforms for consolidating African support for these critical objectives and reinforcing engagement with key stakeholders in global forums.
The Committee of 10’s overarching objective is to reinforce further the engagement of the C-10 Heads of State and Government with other key stakeholders in the Intergovernmental Negotiations process on United Nations Security Council reform, to consolidate support for the Common African Position and to advance the urgent implementation of the commitment to treat Africa as a priority and special case.