France’s UN envoy, Jerome Bonnafont, announced on Tuesday that Paris firmly supports reforming the UN Security Council to significantly increase the representation of African nations.
He emphasized that the global upsurge in conflicts is becoming an entrenched trend, concurrently increasing the temptation to resort to unilateralism in international affairs.
Bonnafont stated that the recently adopted unanimous resolution explicitly reaffirms their collective commitment to multilateralism and the peaceful settlement of disputes worldwide.
He further elaborated at the UN Security Council event that multilateralism is not merely a word but a crucial method, involving consultation, organization, and control of rivalries.
This approach, he noted, stands in stark contrast to the rule of the fittest in defending narrow national interests, with the United Nations serving as its primary institutional pillar.
France actively supports reform efforts spearheaded by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as part of the organization’s upcoming 80th anniversary.
These vital reforms aim to enhance the Organization’s efficiency and effectively adapt it to the complex realities of the contemporary global landscape.
France believes African countries unequivocally deserve a stronger and more prominent voice among the permanent members as an essential component of these comprehensive reforms.
Since 2015, France has also been jointly promoting an initiative with Mexico to regulate the veto power in cases involving mass atrocities.
This critical initiative has garnered support from 107 States, aiming to prevent the Council from remaining deadlocked in such horrific situations.
Bonnafont openly criticized the Council’s perceived inaction on several key international crises, expressing widespread dissatisfaction with its current stalemates.
He specifically highlighted that the international community does not accept the Council remaining deadlocked on Israel’s genocidal war in the Gaza Strip and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. He also issued a strong call for the Council to act more decisively and urgently to help restore lasting peace in the war-torn nation of Sudan.
Bonnafont stressed that the international community must remain mobilized to consistently ensure unwavering respect for fundamental international law principles.
France commends the significant contributions of the International Court of Justice to the peaceful settlement of disputes, both in contentious matters and through its advisory capacity.
He warned that upholding international law, particularly international humanitarian law and human rights law, which have been dangerously flouted, is a cornerstone of conflict prevention and resolution.
