Guterres Calls for Africa to Gain Permanent Seat on UN Security Council.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has urged that Africa be granted a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, describing the absence of such representation as a “deep historical injustice” that must be reversed.

Speaking at the 7th Africa–Europe Summit, Guterres said the move would help correct longstanding imbalances in global governance. He emphasized that African and European countries, which together represent about 40 percent of UN member states, have the potential to serve as a central pillar of a new, more equitable world order.

The Secretary-General highlighted key areas for cooperation between the two blocs, including reform of the international financial system, tackling climate change, and advancing peace initiatives. He criticized the current global financial architecture as “unfair and inefficient,” calling for debt relief for Africa, a tripling of its borrowing capacity, and greater participation and influence for African nations in international institutions.

Guterres also noted Africa’s wealth in clean energy resources and vital minerals, urging that this potential be harnessed to produce high-value-added goods rather than raw exports.

Turning to global conflicts, he described the wars in Ukraine and Gaza as “big failure of humanity” and called for an end to bloodshed worldwide.

The Secretary-General concluded his address by stressing that the partnership between the African Union and the European Union holds real power to make the world “more stable, more just, and more equal.”