Somalia elected non-permanent member of UN Security Council

The UN General Assembly elected Somalia, along with four other countries, as non-permanent members of the UN Security Council (UNSC) for the 2025-2026 term.

Somalia, Pakistan, Panama, Greece, and Denmark secured their positions during the General Assembly session.

Somalia received 179 votes, Pakistan 182, Panama 183, Greece 182, and Denmark 184, surpassing the two-thirds majority required to replace Ecuador, Japan, Malta, Mozambique, and Switzerland.

These new members will serve their non-permanent UNSC terms from January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2026.

Joining the five permanent members and five elected countries from last year, the seat signifies a significant moment for Somalia.

The Horn of Africa country will return to the council after five decades of absence since its 1971 non-permanent membership.

Somalia's agenda

Somalia which is fighting terrorism from groups like Al-Shabab plans to prioritise counterterrorism efforts during its tenure.

Additionally, given its recent experiences, climate change is expected to feature prominently on Somalia’s agenda.

Africa's significant presence in the Security Council highlights its regional political backing, with over 50 per cent of UNSC meetings in 2018 focusing on African peace and security issues.

Despite this, African matters have sometimes been perceived as less strategic compared to other global issues.

Somalia aims to reignite discussions on prioritising African issues within the council.

The African Union has repeatedly called for UN Security Council reform, advocating for Africa's fair representation in permanent and non-permanent categories to address historical injustices.

The bloc urges members to prioritise this issue in their foreign policy engagements with non-African partners.

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