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Tag: UNSC

  • Ruto calls for Africa’s representation in key global institutions

    Ruto calls for Africa’s representation in key global institutions

    President William Ruto has called for the inclusion of Africa in reforming the international financial and governance institutions.

    The President pointed out that these institutions need to be democratised, including the United Nations Security Council, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the World Bank for the benefit of all nations.

    “We are not asking for special treatment as Africa, but there must be equal treatment,” he said.

    The President explained that Africa was not a passive observer in global affairs but an active participant shaping emerging systems of cooperation and development.

    Speaking during a media interview in Evian, France, on the sidelines of G7 Summit on Tuesday, President Ruto regretted that Africa was not at the table when some of the financial and governance institutions were set up after the Second World War in 1945.

    “As the African continent, we need a new paradigm shift with our partners. We need a new relationship and a new engagement,” he said.

    He pointed out that the current international system must evolve to reflect fairness, inclusivity and shared responsibility, cautioning that fragmented responses to global challenges would only worsen instability.

    He also called for the need to increase the representation of Africa in global organisations.

    The President said he was confident that the G7 meeting will facilitate reforms at the UN Security Council to ensure it is democratic, representative and accountable.

    “This meeting will be an opportunity for Africa to have a forthright and candid conversation with our partners,” he said, adding that the “UN must not be run by an administrator but by a reformer”.

    At the same time, he explained that Africa is a great asset to global prosperity, pointing out that it has huge natural resources including minerals, land and vast untapped renewable energy reserves, among others.

    By 2050, President Ruto said, 40 per cent of the world’s workforce will be in Africa and 25 per cent of the global population will be living in the continent, pointing out that Africa will therefore provide not only workers but also markets.

    He therefore noted that three significant issues must be sorted out. One, Africa should be able to access concessional development resources to unlock Africa’s potential.

    Two, President Ruto regretted that the continent continues to borrow from international institutions at significantly high interest compared to other economies, saying the situation should be corrected.

    “We must also sort out the problem of global rating agencies exaggerating Africa’s risk yet the continent is not a risky as they want the world to believe,” President Ruto said.

    Three, the President said Africa should be part of the conservation on how technology issues, including artificial intelligence, should be used in driving economies.

  • Russia voices dissatisfaction over UNSC inaction on Nord Stream sabotage

    Russia voices dissatisfaction over UNSC inaction on Nord Stream sabotage

    Russia on Thursday expressed dissatisfaction with the United Nations (UN) Security Council over its inaction on an international investigation of the September 2022 sabotage of the Nord Stream natural gas pipelines.

    Talking to reporters after Security Council consultations on the incident, Russia’s first deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, Dmitry Polyanskiy, said his country drew the attention of the council members to “the absolutely unsatisfactory situation” around the investigation of the Nord Stream sabotage.

    Exactly a year ago, in March 2023, the Security Council was not able to take action on a Russian draft resolution asking the UN secretary-general to make a proposal on an international investigation. Later, Russia proposed a Security Council Presidential Statement on the same subject, which was also blocked, said Polyanskiy.

    Those council members against action said they wanted to give some time to national investigations of Denmark, Sweden and Germany. Since then, any Russian attempt to push for Security Council action was declined by the United States and its allies, he said.

    “The mentioned national investigations of Denmark, Sweden and Germany were proceeding without any results. There was absolutely no transparency for Russia, and they rejected any attempts to establish bilateral cooperation with Russia though Russia is undoubtedly the affected state in this situation,” said the diplomat.

    Polyanskiy said the national investigations were so inconclusive that it is like spending a year investigating into a murder case and coming up with a conclusion that it was indeed a murder.

    “Of course this is unsatisfactory. I would say that this is a mockery of international efforts,” he said.

    Polyanskiy said that the only aim of the investigations by Denmark, Sweden and Germany is to win time and complicate international efforts to ensure accountability for the Nord Stream sabotage.

    “If we do not ensure accountability, we are on a very slippery slope, admitting that destruction of infrastructure facilities in international waters can go unpunished,” he said. “We also act on the premise that members of the Security Council will work in good faith and are interested in bringing those who blew up Nord Stream to justice. Therefore, we reserve the right to renew the efforts to bring about an international investigation of Nord Stream sabotage and to come forward with relevant proposals.”