Museveni at the UN summit in New York, where he called for more representation of Africa on the Security Council
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has demanded changes in the operations of the United Nations Security Council in order to give the organisation more legitimacy and credibility from member states.
Addressing the Security Council summit on Thursday, Museveni said it is an injustice that Africa, with 53 member states and a population of over one billion, has no permanent representation on this council.
Museveni further proposed that the council strives to be more even handed and transparent in its approach and decisions to dispel the perception that on some issues, vested interests override fairness. He said the permanent representation would ensure that Africa’s interests are protected. Museveni is among world leaders who are attending the 65 United Nations General Assembly at its New York headquarters in the US.
He told the 15-member security council meeting that Uganda welcomes the strengthening of Security Council’s strategic partnership with the African Union, as well as other regional organisations which maintain peace and security. He, however, said the UN should optimise the contribution by the organisations which have advantages of proximity, capability to mobilise and respond quickly, observing that in the recent past, the number of missions carried out in pursuit of peace by these organisations had increased. “It should be clear to all that all the major African problems that have been solved have been regional led, like the independence of Mozambique, Zimbabwe and even South Africa, the defeat of Idd Amin and Mobutu, the addressing of the Sudan problem, the stopping of genocide in Rwanda the problem of Burundi, Somalia, Liberia and Sierra Leon,” he stated.
Museveni explained that where the UN works with the regional organisations or internal forces within each country, the results have been better and durable. He suggested that the UN supports the efforts of those organisations and internal forces. Museveni observed that where the UN has tried to work alone to solve African problems, it has made mistakes. “It is enough to point out the death of Patrice Lumumba in UN hands and its tragic consequences for Congo,” he recalled. On Somalia, Museveni observed that what is needed is financial support. “This is one area where more support from UN and other international partners is urgently needed.” He remarked that the UN was founded to prevent conflict between nations, avert future wars and strengthen cooperation among its member states. “In order to ensure effective action by the UN, its members conferred on the security council the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security,” he said, adding that emphasis was on quick and strong action which he said must be maintained. Museveni urged the security council to devise means of addressing the causes of intractable conflicts around the world, as well as new threats, such as transnational organised crime, drug trafficking, terrorism and piracy, which, he said, must be dealt with, more resolutely. Earlier the President attended the opening session of the 65 UN general assembly addressed by US President Barrack Obama, UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, African Union President, Bingu Wamuthalika and Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki.
Addressing the Security Council summit on Thursday, Museveni said it is an injustice that Africa, with 53 member states and a population of over one billion, has no permanent representation on this council.
Museveni further proposed that the council strives to be more even handed and transparent in its approach and decisions to dispel the perception that on some issues, vested interests override fairness. He said the permanent representation would ensure that Africa’s interests are protected. Museveni is among world leaders who are attending the 65 United Nations General Assembly at its New York headquarters in the US.
He told the 15-member security council meeting that Uganda welcomes the strengthening of Security Council’s strategic partnership with the African Union, as well as other regional organisations which maintain peace and security. He, however, said the UN should optimise the contribution by the organisations which have advantages of proximity, capability to mobilise and respond quickly, observing that in the recent past, the number of missions carried out in pursuit of peace by these organisations had increased. “It should be clear to all that all the major African problems that have been solved have been regional led, like the independence of Mozambique, Zimbabwe and even South Africa, the defeat of Idd Amin and Mobutu, the addressing of the Sudan problem, the stopping of genocide in Rwanda the problem of Burundi, Somalia, Liberia and Sierra Leon,” he stated.
Museveni explained that where the UN works with the regional organisations or internal forces within each country, the results have been better and durable. He suggested that the UN supports the efforts of those organisations and internal forces. Museveni observed that where the UN has tried to work alone to solve African problems, it has made mistakes. “It is enough to point out the death of Patrice Lumumba in UN hands and its tragic consequences for Congo,” he recalled. On Somalia, Museveni observed that what is needed is financial support. “This is one area where more support from UN and other international partners is urgently needed.” He remarked that the UN was founded to prevent conflict between nations, avert future wars and strengthen cooperation among its member states. “In order to ensure effective action by the UN, its members conferred on the security council the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security,” he said, adding that emphasis was on quick and strong action which he said must be maintained. Museveni urged the security council to devise means of addressing the causes of intractable conflicts around the world, as well as new threats, such as transnational organised crime, drug trafficking, terrorism and piracy, which, he said, must be dealt with, more resolutely. Earlier the President attended the opening session of the 65 UN general assembly addressed by US President Barrack Obama, UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, African Union President, Bingu Wamuthalika and Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki.
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