𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝐏𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐎𝐮𝐭 𝐎𝐟 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

African leaders from several countries have delivered strong speeches at the UN General Assembly, calling for an overhaul of the “outdated” UN structure and demanding permanent seats with veto power at the UN Security Council.
President William Ruto of Kenya said, “I will lead a delegation of African Leaders to pull out of United Nations if Africa is not given a permanent seat… enough of the disrespect!”
In his words: “You cannot claim to be the United Nations while disregarding the voices of fifty-four nations, it is impossible. Africa will no longer remain on the margins of global governance while decisions on peace, security, and development are made without our perspectives and our voice.
Excluding Africa is not only unacceptable, unfair, and grossly unjust, it undermines the very credibility of this organization. Africa dominates much of the Security Council’s agenda, provides some of the largest contingents of UN peacekeepers, and bears the heaviest costs of instability. Yet, we remain the only continent without a permanent seat.”
For his Part, President Bio used the platform to reinforce Sierra Leone’s stance on Security Council reform, highlighting Africa’s long-standing demand for at least two permanent seats with full rights and prerogatives, in addition to two non-permanent seats. He described Africa’s exclusion as “unjust and untenable,” adding that this anniversary should mark the moment the international community answers Africa’s call.
As Chair of ECOWAS and Coordinator of the African Union Committee of Ten on Security Council Reform (C-10), President Bio outlined his regional leadership priorities, including defending democracy, countering terrorism, strengthening integration, and advancing Africa’s voice on the global stage.
“The world does not need a louder UN. It requires a braver UN. Now is the time to make the UN work for all,” President Bio concluded.
“The UN founding charter is outdated when it comes to representation. The most powerful post-World War II nations are still being rewarded with an almost totalitarian guardianship over the rest of the world,” President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana told world leaders and diplomats at the UNGA .
Other African leaders delivered powerful messages of economic self-determination during the 80th United Nations General Assembly, demanding fundamental changes to international trade and global systems.
South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa criticized global trade practices, declaring that “trade is now being used as a weapon against a number of countries,” responding to recent U.S. tariffs. He warned that “geopolitical shocks and unprecedented trade policy volatility are destabilising the global economy”.
Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu called for African nations to control their mineral resources, ending “the ignoble cycle of exporting rocks and importing finished goods.” He urged African countries to take charge of their cobalt, lithium, and rare earths “as one continental bloc”.
Meanwhile, Liberia’s President Joseph Boakai said his country will use its historic UN Security Council seat to advocate for Africa: “… while the nameplate will read Liberia, the seat belongs to Africa.”