Decision on the Reform of the United Nations Security Council – Doc. Assembly/AU/4(XXVII)

DECISION ON THE REFORM OF THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL
Doc. Assembly/AU/4(XXVII)

The Assembly,

1. TAKES NOTE of the 18^th Report of the Committee of Ten Heads of State and Government on the Reform of the United Nations Security Council (C10);

2. CONSCIOUS of the need, within this process of reform to ensure Africa’s legitimate right to a fair and equitable geographical representation;

3. RECOGNIZING that all the regions of the world must in this era of globalization, endeavour in a spirit of solidarity to build a world of peace, security, justice, good governance and sustainable development;

4. PERSUADED that the UNSC Reform should be all-inclusive and encompass all components of the United Nations system, including the General Assembly and the Security Council;

5. DETERMINED to achieve Africa’s goal to be fully represented in all the decision­making organs of the UN, particularly in the Security Council, which is the principal decision-making organ of the UN in matters relating to international peace and security;

6. CONVINCED of the need for a comprehensive reform of the UN System which takes into account the principles, objectives and ideals of the United Nations Charter for a fairer world based on universalism, equity and regional balance;

7. ACKNOWLEDGES WITH APPRECIATION the progress made by the C10 in advocating and canvassing support for the Common African Position as outlined in the Ezulwini Consensus and the 2005 Sirte Declaration on the United Nations Security Council Reform;

8. WELCOMES in that regard, the support that the Common African Position continues to garner within and outside the intergovernmental negotiations on the United Nations Security Council Reform;

9. REAFFIRMS its strong commitment to the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration;

10. REITERATES that full representation of Africa in the United Nations Security Council means:

1. Not less than two (2) permanent seats with all the prerogatives and privileges of permanent membership including the right of veto;

2. Five (5) non-permanent seats.

11. ALSO REITERATES that even though Africa is opposed, in principle, to the veto, it is of the view that so long as it exists, and as a matter of common justice, it should be made available to all permanent members of UNSC;

12. FURTHER REITERATES the firm commitment to preserve Africa’s unity and solidarity on all aspects of the reform process of the UNSC, including participation within and outside the intergovernmental negotiations, and the selection by the AU of its representatives in the UNSC to act in its name and on its behalf;

13. REQUESTS Member States to include the issue of the UNSC Reform among their foreign policy priorities in their engagements with non-African partners, in particular, the need to correct without further delay, the historical injustice that the African continent continues to endure;

14. REQUESTS the African States in New York which have re-joined the L-69 to withdraw from the informal group and to belong only to the African Group in order to consolidate the common African position as contained in the Ezulwini Consensus and in the Syrte Declaration;

15. DECIDES that the Commission should allocate a budget for the C-10 activities for the year 2017 in accordance with the existing rules;

16. ALSO DECIDES that the C-10 remains seized of its mandate until Africa achieves its objectives on the UNSC Reform.