Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Musalia Mudavadi, is in Lusaka, Zambia, participating in the 13th Ministerial Meeting of the African Union Committee of Ten (C-10) Heads of State and Government on United Nations Security Council (UNSC) reform.
The high-level meeting has drawn foreign ministers and diplomats from across the continent to push for Africa’s inclusion in a reformed and more representative Security Council. The discussions center on advancing the Common African Position (CAP), which calls for at least two permanent seats with veto power and two additional non-permanent seats for Africa on the UNSC.
Speaking during the summit, Mudavadi emphasized the urgency of reforming global governance structures to reflect current geopolitical realities. “Africa, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, continues to be significantly underrepresented in the global security architecture,” he said. “We must have a seat at the table where peace, conflict resolution, and global governance decisions are made.”
The C-10’s position is grounded in the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration, which outline Africa’s longstanding demand for equitable representation at the United Nations. Delegates argue that the existing UNSC framework perpetuates outdated power dynamics and denies Africa a voice in decisions directly impacting the continent and the world.
In addition to structural reform, the committee is also addressing historical injustices faced by Africa, advocating for reparations and redress for the continent’s continued marginalization within global institutions.
The C-10 comprises Kenya, Algeria, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Libya, Namibia, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Uganda, and Zambia. The meeting also highlighted the importance of promoting education, science, technology, and innovation (ESTI) as drivers of Africa’s development and global influence.
On the sidelines of the summit, Mudavadi is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with senior Zambian officials and fellow ministers of foreign affairs to deepen regional cooperation and consensus on international policy priorities.
Written By Rodney Mbua
