In this video, South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, during his speech at the just-concluded General Assembly of the United Nations, reiterated the call for a reform in the structure of the international organization’s highest organ.

Ramaphosa called for African representation in the council, stressing the point of inclusiveness which is central to a democratic structure which the UN ought to represent.

“The UN Security Council should be a more representative body and inclusive, 78 years after its formation the structure of the UN remains unchanged… the UN sc must be reformed as a matter of urgency” Ramaphosa said.

The Security Council is tasked with maintaining international peace and security and has the power to impose sanctions, impose weapons embargoes, and use force.

When the UN was founded in 1945, there were eleven members of the Security Council. Five permanent veto-wielding nations (the US, Britain, China, Russia, and France) and 10 elected governments for two-year terms made up the membership, which increased to fifteen in 1965.

In this video, the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, reacts in commemoration of the day for South-south cooperation in global relations.

He stressed that only through cooperation could developing countries, a category to which many African countries belong, secure multilateral support and realize shared prosperity.

The cooperation refers to an exchange of expertise between governments, organizations and individuals in developing nations. Through this model, the developing countries help and support each other with knowledge, technical assistance, and/or investments.

Watch the video below: