International relations

Africa backs SA for UN Security Council

5 February 2010

The African Union summit, which wrapped up in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Tuesday, endorsed South Africa's candidature for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.

Elections for the African seat of the UN Security Council will be held during the 65th session of the UN General Assembly in New York in October. If elected, South Africa will serve a second term as a non-permanent member of the council.

South Africa served its first ever term on the council in 2007-08, bringing to it a strong track record as an "agent of change" after chairing the Non-Aligned Movement, Commonwealth, African Union, and G77+China.

South Africa had also contributed towards norm-setting in the international arena by hosting major conferences such as the World Conference against Racism and the World Summit on Sustainable Development.

According to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, the main theme of South Africa's previous tenure on the UN Security Council was that of deepening cooperation between the UN and the African Union, and the country would seek to take this forwarded if elected for a second term.

South Africa's candidature for 2011-12 "will be guided by its commitment to strengthening the multilateral system and its support for a broader multilateral approach to questions of international peace and security," the department said in a statement this week.

"Membership of the Security Council will present an opportunity to promote the African agenda and to contribute to achieving peace and stability on the continent and in all regions of the world.

"In putting forward its candidature, South Africa also recognises the necessity and importance of continuing to work together with all the members of the African Union and United Nations in pursuit of effective global governance, multilateralism and the reform of the United Nations system, including the reform of the Security Council, in order to make it more transparent and accountable to enhance its legitimacy, representivity and effectiveness."

SAinfo reporter and BuaNews