Jaishankar Calls for UN Security Council Reform, Urges Fair Representation for Africa
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar called for a more representative United Nations Security Council in Addis Ababa, highlighting India-Africa cooperation, trade and development priorities across the Global South.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has called for reform of the United Nations Security Council, saying India and Africa cannot remain underrepresented in global decision-making. Speaking at the Adwa Victory Memorial Museum in Addis Ababa, he argued that the current Council fails to deliver effectively and represent countries fairly.
Jaishankar urged fair African representation in both permanent and non-permanent categories of Security Council membership. The 15-member body has five permanent members with veto powers and 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms.
He also highlighted India’s support for the African Union’s permanent membership in the G20 during India’s 2023 presidency. His remarks came during the final leg of his three-nation African tour, which included Ethiopia, Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire.
Jaishankar linked India and Africa’s historical struggles against colonialism with their shared pursuit of sovereignty and development. He said India’s goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047 and Africa’s Agenda 2063 offered complementary pathways for growth.
India is Africa’s fourth-largest trading partner, with bilateral trade nearing $100 billion, Jaishankar said. He added that more than 220 Indian-supported development projects worth around $4.5 billion had been completed across the continent.
He called for stronger cooperation in infrastructure, industrialisation, technology, agriculture and food security. Jaishankar also encouraged Indian businesses to invest in Africa, stressing that future partnerships should build local capabilities and promote self-reliance rather than dependency.
