The former President of Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe died this September 6th, 2019 in Singapore at the age of 95. He will be remembered for a lot of things, good and bad. We would like to remember him for his persistent call to reform the United Nations Security Council.
During the 67th session of the United Nations general assembly in New York on September 26, 2012, President Mugabe stated: “We have been seized with the debate on the reform of the Security Council for far too long. My delegation fully supports the current intergovernmental negotiations on the reform and expansion of the Security Council. However, we wish to caution against an open-ended approach which short-changes those of us from regions that are not represented at all among the permanent membership of the Council.Zimbabwe stands by Africa’s demand for two permanent seats complete with a veto, if the veto is to be retained, plus two additional non-permanent seats, as clearly articulated in the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration. For how long, Mr President, will the international community continue to ignore the aspirations of a whole continent of fifty-four countries? We shall not be bought-off with empty promises, nor shall we accept some cosmetic tinkering of the Security Council disguised as reform. It is indeed a travesty of justice that the African continent, which accounts for almost a third of the membership represented in this august Assembly, has no permanent representation in the Security Council. Is this good governance? Is this democracy? And, is this justice?”
Unfortunately, the reform that President Mugabe called for is yet to be realized.