🔅 UN Calls for Africa Permanent Seat at Security Council
Democracy in Africa: It's Complicated, But We're Still Into It
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UN Chief Calls for Africa's Permanent Seat at the Security Council
In a move that has been long overdue, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for Africa to be given a permanent seat at the UN Security Council. The demand comes as part of a larger push for reforms to correct historical injustices and address the glaring lack of representation for the continent.
The Security Council, which has long been criticized for representing the realities of a bygone era, has failed to keep pace with the changing world. As President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone put it, "The time for half-measures and incremental progress is over. Africa must be heard, and its demands for justice and equity must be met."
The African Union has been pushing for the continent to have two permanent representatives on the council and an additional two seats as non-permanent representatives.
But why is this so important? Well, for starters, the UN Security Council has significant responsibilities, including authorizing peacekeeping operations, imposing international sanctions, and determining how the UN should respond to conflicts around the world.
And yet… as Guterres pointed out, "We cannot accept that the world's preeminent peace and security body lacks a permanent voice for a continent of well over a billion people - a young and rapidly growing population - making up 28% of the membership of the United Nations."
The irony is not lost on anyone: Africa has often been at the center of conflicts fueled by greed for the continent's resources, necessary to the global economy. And while almost half of all UN peacekeeping operations are in Africa, and 40% of UN peacekeepers are African, the continent remains under-represented at the very institutions designed to address these challenges.
As Guterres pointed out, reforming the Security Council to include Africa is also a strategic imperative that can increase global acceptance of the council's decisions – benefiting not just Africa, but the entire world.
Democracy in Africa: It's Complicated, But We're Still Into It
Looks like democracy in Africa is having a bit of an image problem lately, what with all those coups and backsliding reports. But don't write it off just yet!
The latest Afrobarometer report shows that Africans are still pretty keen on the whole democracy thing.
Despite its drama and occasional ghosting, 66% of Africans still approve of democracy.
They're just not that into one-man rule (80% rejection), one-party systems (78% rejection), or military rule (66% rejection).
But here's the thing: the problem isn't that Africans don't want democracy. It's that their leaders are failing to deliver the goods.
When it comes to democratic satisfaction, Africans are tougher critics than their global counterparts. They're not just happy with a participation trophy – they want the real deal.
While they trust their militaries, they're not exactly eager to hand over the keys to the country. But if elected leaders start abusing power, well... let's just say the military option is starting to look less unappealing.
Despite some wavering support for elections (down 8% in 30 countries), Africans are still very committed to democratic ideals. They're calling for accountability, rule of law, and support for democratic institutions.
So, to all the naysayers who thought Africans didn't care about how they were governed: turns out, they do care. A lot.
Tragedy Strikes Kampala: Landslide at Massive Rubbish Dump Claims 21 Lives
A landslide at Kampala's massive Kiteezi landfill has claimed the lives of at least 21 people, including four children. The tragedy unfolded late on Friday night when a huge hill formed by the build-up of rubbish collapsed, burying houses on the edge of the site while residents were asleep.
Rescuers are still digging through the waste, hoping to find more survivors. As Kampala Mayor Erias Lukwago put it, "many, many more could be still buried."
The 36-acre (14-hectare) Kiteezi landfill is the only one serving the entire city of Kampala, home to an estimated four million people. Mayor Lukwago admitted that the disaster was "bound to happen," and the city authorities have reportedly been trying to find a new site for many years.
President Yoweri Museveni has ordered an investigation into how people had been allowed to live so close to the "potentially hazardous and dangerous heap" and has called for the removal of those in what he termed the "danger zone."
The landslide has forced some 1,000 people to leave their homes. Many of those affected earn their living by trawling through the piles of rubbish, looking for anything that can be resold.
Food for Thought
“You can run away from the rain but not from the dew.”
— Tanzanian Proverb