United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called for sweeping reforms to global governance structures, urging that Africa be granted permanent representation on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and demanding an overhaul of international financial institutions that he said were “created by the rich for the rich.“
Speaking on Sunday, 20 September 2026, at the Unstoppable Africa 2026 forum — the flagship event of the Global Africa Business Initiative (GABI) — Guterres told attendees that both the UNSC and multilateral financial institutions fail to reflect Africa’s demographic weight and interests.
The UN chief described Africa as a “double victim of colonialism,” explaining that historic subjugation prevented African nations from having a seat at the table when post-World War II international institutions were established.
He argued that the continent must be granted permanent seats to participate directly in global decision-making.
“We must reform the international financial architecture that was created by the rich for the rich, and we must make it more representative of the needs of developing countries, especially in Africa,” Guterres said.
A Longstanding Demand
Guterres has consistently backed Africa’s push for permanent representation.
Speaking at the African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa in February 2026, he declared the absence of permanent African seats “indefensible,” stating: “This is 2026 — not 1946. Whatever decisions about Africa and the world are on the table, Africa must be at the table.“
His remarks on Sunday echoed that sentiment, reinforcing a position he has held throughout his tenure.
Africa’s Exclusion from Global Governance
Africa has long demanded reform of the UNSC, the 15-member body responsible for maintaining international peace and security.
The council’s five permanent members — China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States — hold veto power, a structure that has remained largely unchanged since 1945.
Despite being home to more than 1.5 billion people and representing 54 nations, Africa holds no permanent seat on the council.
The Ezulwini Consensus, adopted by the AU in 2005, calls for at least two permanent seats with veto power and five non-permanent seats for Africa.
The Unstoppable Africa 2026 forum, held on 20–21 September at the New York Marriott Marquis, brought together heads of state, global business leaders, investors, and innovators to advance Africa’s economic agenda on the world stage.
Economic Transformation and “Doing Business With Africa”
Beyond Security Council reform, Guterres highlighted Africa’s economic trajectory.
He noted that despite global disruptions stemming from wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, Africa’s economy expanded by 4.4 per cent last year, with trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) on track to reach $230 billion in 2026.
Turning to natural resources, Guterres warned against ongoing exploitation amid intensifying geopolitical competition.
“We must ensure that Africa’s vast natural resources, particularly critical minerals, create local value and decent jobs, rather than simply being shipped overseas,” he said.
