President Yoweri Museveni has demanded permanent representation for Africa on the United Nations Security Council, saying the continent’s exclusion from the permanent category amounts to a historical imbalance that must be corrected.
Museveni made the call in his address to the 81st UN General Assembly, delivered on his behalf by Vice President Jessica Alupo in New York on Thursday.
He called for comprehensive reform of the Security Council to make it “more equitable, transparent, democratic and representative.”
“We demand Africa’s rightful representation — in both the Permanent and Non-Permanent categories — to correct historical imbalances,” Museveni said.
The President said Uganda’s position is aligned with the Common African Position contained in the Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration, which form the basis of Africa’s longstanding demand for greater representation on the Security Council.
The UN’s ongoing intergovernmental negotiations have recognised growing support for increased representation of developing countries, including Africa. A 2026 UN elements paper also notes the broad recognition of Africa’s aspiration to play a greater role in the Council and the commitment to address the continent’s historical underrepresentation.
The current Security Council has 15 members, comprising five permanent members and 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms. The permanent members are China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Africa currently has no permanent seat, although three African countries serve as elected members of the Council at a time under the current regional allocation.
Africa seeks greater power
Under the Common African Position, the continent has called for at least two permanent seats and additional non-permanent seats, with the permanent members enjoying the same prerogatives, including the veto, as existing permanent members.
Museveni said Uganda would work with other UN member states to build consensus around reforms of the Council.
His intervention comes as the question of Security Council reform remains part of ongoing UN negotiations, with member states continuing to debate the size and composition of an expanded Council, permanent membership and the veto.
The call also comes amid renewed criticism of the Council’s structure, including from UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who has highlighted Africa’s lack of permanent representation as part of wider concerns about the legitimacy and effectiveness of the global institution.
For Uganda, Museveni linked the reform question to the broader principle of making the UN responsive to present-day global realities.
He said Uganda remains committed to multilateralism and international cooperation and would support reforms that strengthen the UN’s role in maintaining international peace and security.