US proposes 2 permanent seats for Africa on UN Security Council
Source: The Hill
09/12/24 2:00 PM ET
The Biden administration is calling for adding two permanent seats for African nations to the United Nations Security Council, and an elected seat for a small-island developing nation.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield announced the proposal Thursday, capping off her nearly four-year effort to give more power to countries historically isolated from decisionmaking on international peace and security.
The announcement comes as the United Nations General Assembly is set to convene Sept. 22-24. It’s not clear if negotiations surrounding the reforms would be ready by the time for the general assembly, but a senior administration official said the U.S. is prepared to pursue “text-based negotiations,” prepare amendments and “get to work on a resolution for a vote in the general assembly to amend the U.N. Charter.”
“The announcement we’re making today helps to put some meat around the bones of our vision for a reformed Security Council, but there are many questions that will need to be addressed between and among member states, and that ultimately will be fodder for the text-based negotiations,” the official said, briefing reporters in a call Thursday morning.
Read more: https://thehill.com/policy/international/4876717-us-proposes-un-security-council-reforms/
I always wanted to see the "5 Permanent Members" be "1 per (inhabited, non-island) "continent". I.e, Rotate countries within the geographic areas of North America, South America, Africa, Europe, and Asia.
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The Peace Ark has a capacity to treat 700 patients each day and the service forms part of a joint exercise between the South African and Chinese armies. (Image: BBC)
Beijing is fostering goodwill in Africa with the Peace Ark, a 300-bed hospital that is docked in Capetown, South Africa. The military medical staff on board are providing free health care to needy South Africans.
Since the Peace Ark arrived last week, more than 2,000 South Africans have been treated on board – ranging from maternity check-ups and cataract surgeries to cupping therapy. Approximately 60 surgeries have been carried out so far, a tiny dent in the province’s waiting list of 80,000 patients.
The floating hospital leaves Cape Town for Angola before moving on to several other countries. The Peace Ark already visited the Seychelles, Tanzania, Madagascar, and Mozambique on this 10th excursion since being commissioned in 2008.
China enjoys a strong political partnership with South Africa, and this is Beijing’s latest show of soft power and a further step in China’s efforts to increase its influence on the African continent.
The 300-bed Peace Ark has a crew of 100, 20 intensive care beds, operating theatres, clinical departments, and a rescue helicopter.
Source:
Peace Ark: South Africans flock to Chinese hospital ship in Cape Town (bbc.com)
