UNSC: How important is a permanent seat for Africa?

Editor, RE: “Why African leaders should push for UNSC permanent seat” (The New Times, January 30). The tone in this article is a reminiscent of our parents’ experience dealing with United Nations back in the 60’s and 70’s concerning the repatriation of the Rwandan refugees, fleeing rampant persecution of the Tutsi. Our parents wasted their precious time and efforts, begging the United Nations to repatriate them back to their country. Their faith in that impotent organisation never materialised until a new Rwandan generation took the matter in their own hands. Still in exile, we planned our repatriation back to ‘the promised land’ and, ironically, the United Nations was a major obstacle to our aspirations. The younger Rwandan generation clandestinely built an army within the armies of other nations, built economy and academic base within the economies and academia of foreign nations, then launched what will remain in history as “phenomenal Rwandan exodus from exile”. And, guess who was against us? The United Nations! Our success was built on a secret code dubbed “Rwandan Holy Trinity”— Education, Economy, Military. That Rwandan Holy Trinity enabled us to return home. Simply put: do not beg for recognition from anyone out there, but rather earn it, by all means and excuses necessary. Abdul-Rahman Ntaganda **************************** This is a well articulated piece. However, I find it important that our leaders emphasize on undertaking internal reforms across Africa by effectively implementing plans on key issues identified during last week’s summit in order to achieve the goals and the purpose for which the AU was created. Corruption, coup d’états, internal conflicts and the lack of the Pan-Africanism spirit within our leaders has, for years, turned the AU summits into mere ceremonies –instead of serving as important events from where challenges are identified and solutions devised. Seeking African permanent representation on the United Nations Security Council is a noble effort since it could give Africans an opportunity to directly vote in the decision to better their continent. Yet, achieving the cardinal goals of the AU should be the price that the African countries pay prior to attaining permanent representation on the UNSC. C.K. Mugabo

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UNSC: How important is a permanent seat for Africa?