Argument: Who should get the seat?

There is not just competition from countries outside Africa but also internally. If there is only to be one permanent African member or even two who should it be? With no defined criteria for UNSC membership any African state could stake a claim. There are however three or four serious contenders. South Africa, Nigeria and Egypt have declared themselves contenders and are leaders of their sub regions. [1] Ethiopia is also a similarly sized state and if thinking about the future DR Congo has immense potential if its conflicts are ever resolved. How would these countries resolve their competing interests with only one position on offer?

[1] Spies, Yolanda K., ‘The multilateral maze and (South) Africa’s Quest for Permanent United Nations Security Council representation’, University of Pretoria, http://repository.up.ac.za/bitstream/handle/2263/6307/Spies_Multilateral?sequence=1 , p.106

Candidate 1: "There is no evidence that an African state would constantly use the veto if they had it. No African state has the kind of interests around the world the current members have so a veto is only likely to be wielded over African issues. Such a veto will simply be ensuring that the African side is put before the council.

Moreover an African veto would not prevent the council from being useful; it won’t even have the effect the cold war did. Since 1990 62 UNSC resolutions were adopted per year, during the cold war only 15 were on average. If the UNSC could operate then it can operate with more veto members now. [1]

[1] Okhovat, Sahar, ‘The United Nations Security Council: Its Veto Power and Its Reform’, Sydney University, CPACS Working Paper no.15/1, December 2011, http://sydney.edu.au/arts/peace_conflict/docs/working_papers/UNSC_paper.pdf p.12"
Candidate 2: "That there should be competition for a seat at the highest international table is no surprise. However this is not a reason against reform. Nor should Germany and Japan be considered stronger contenders than an African country; why should Europe get a third and Asia a second permanent member before Africa has one?"
Candidate 3: "Assessment of fees for the UN is not done on the basis of the influence of the member within the UN, rather it is done through a formula based on national income. The payment is for membership, not to buy influence. [1]

As far as peacekeeping forces are concerned, South Africa is already a prominent contributor. In the UN’s assessments of present troop contributions for peacekeeping efforts South Africa is 10th. Its record in promoting peace on the continent includes playing leading roles to end conflicts in Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and most recently in Ivory Coast. [2]

[1] Committee on Contributions, ‘Regular budget and Working Capital Fund’, United Nations, 2013, http://www.un.org/en/ga/contributions/budget.shtml

[2] African Union Monitor, ‘Africa and the UN Security Council Permanent Seats, Pambazuka News, Issue 204, 28 April 2005, http://pambazuka.org/en/category/aumonitor/27913"
Candidate 4: "Despite Africa’s demands for increased influence, they are not in a position of power and it is within their interest to maintain positive relations with the developed powers.

They have numbers but despite their economic growth in the past decade Africa is still more dependent than any other region on foreign help. The budgets of Ghana and Uganda, for example, are more than 50 percent aid dependent. [1] Moreover, they need foreign troops in order to maintain order and fight rebel groups. In 2013, there were 15 peacekeeping missions in Africa playing a necessary role in maintaining order in countries such as the CAR. [2]

[1] Ayodele, Thompson et al., “African Perspectives on Aid: Foreign Assistance Will Not Pull Africa Out of Poverty” Cato Institute, 14 September 2005 http://www.cato.org/publications/economic-development-bulletin/african-perspectives-aid-foreign-assistance-will-not-pull-africa-out-poverty

[2] “UN Peacekeeping”, Better World Campaign, http://www.betterworldcampaign.org/un-peacekeeping/missions/africa.html"
Candidate 5: "There is no reason to believe that African opinions are disregarded when in the UNSC. Three out of 15 members is not particular disproportionate.

First of all, many decisions are taken in the United Nations General Assembly, a completely democratic body, in which the African Union due to its 54 members has a lot of influence. Therefore Africa is not underrepresented on economic and development issues.

Moreover the UNSC is usually following local concerns; the African Union has a chance to intervene on African security issues first like every other regional organisation. Indeed the AU is increasingly providing peacekeeping and even intervention as in Somalia. [1]

[1] African Union Peace and Security, ‘Somalia (Forward AMISON HQ)’, African Union, 12 September 2012, http://www.peaceau.org/fr/page/40-2889-static-somalia-forward-liaison-office"
Candidate 6: "Countries on the UNSC do already take an interest in the Africa, illustrated by French troops helping local democratic governments form Mali and CAR defeat various outlaw rebel groups. [1]

Secondly, simply giving a veto to an Africa nation, does not guarantee that they will promote beneficial policies. South Africa for example has been accused of using UNSC membership to defend human rights abusers, South Africa’s response was that human rights "have always targeted mainly the developing countries". [2]

[1] “Sand on their boots”, The Economist, Jan 24th 2013 http://www.economist.com/news/briefing/21570718-french-action-mali-seems-be-workingso-far-sand-their-boots

[2] Humphreys, Joe, ‘SA defends human rights voting at UN’, The Irish Times, 20 November 2007, http://www.unwatch.org/site/apps/nl/content2.asp?c=bdKKISNqEmG&amp;b=1319279&amp;ct=4653987"
Candidate 7: "A dispute over who which African state obtains membership is a sideshow. What matters is the principle that an African state should have permanent membership."

A dispute over who which African state obtains membership is a sideshow. What matters is the principle that an African state should have permanent membership.
