Three prominent African politicians vying for the African Union chairperson role have called for permanent representation in the United Nations Security Council.
Raila Odinga of Kenya, Mahamoud Ali Youssouf of Djibouti, and Richard Randriamandrato of Madagascar participated in a two-hour debate on Friday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The debate focused on regional security, trade, and Africa’s representation on the world stage.
All three candidates strongly advocated for two permanent seats in the UN Security Council with veto power. Odinga emphasized the need for such representation, calling it “a must for Africa” given the continent’s 55 nations and its growing influence.
Randriamandrato urged African countries to unite in selecting the region’s representative at the Security Council. He said this was a crucial opportunity to speak with one voice for Africa’s interests.
The candidates also addressed Africa’s ongoing challenges with conflict and political instability. Youssouf stressed the need to boost resources for regional security forces to reduce dependence on foreign partnerships.
Randriamandrato further warned against foreign military bases in Africa, suggesting they could potentially fuel regional conflicts. He called for African nations to take greater responsibility for their own security.
Trade also emerged as a key issue. Odinga proposed leveraging Africa’s “huge domestic market” to boost intra-Africa commerce. Youssouf advocated for a system to manage trade payments between nations, while Randriamandrato highlighted the role of economic blocs like COMESA in enhancing trade.
