President William Ruto has renewed calls for urgent reform of global governance structures, arguing that the United Nations Security Council no longer reflects today’s geopolitical realities and continues to exclude Africa from permanent representation.
Speaking at the Oslo Forum 2026 High-Level Public Event, the President said the current structure of the United Nations Security Council was designed in the aftermath of the Second World War and has not evolved in line with global political and security transformations.
He noted that while the Council remains central to maintaining international peace and security, its legitimacy is increasingly being questioned due to its limited representation.
Ruto argued that Africa, despite frequently featuring in the Council’s agenda through conflict resolution and peacekeeping discussions, still lacks a permanent seat where binding decisions are made.
“The United Nations Security Council, entrusted with maintaining international peace and security, was conceived in the aftermath of the Second World War for a world that no longer exists,” Ruto said.
“While its purpose remains indispensable, its structure has not kept pace with the profound transformations that have reshaped our world.”
He further emphasized what he described as a contradiction in global governance, noting that regions most affected by conflict remain underrepresented in decision-making processes.
According to him, this undermines both the effectiveness and credibility of international peace efforts.
“Africa, a continent that frequently occupies the Council’s agenda, still holds no permanent seat at the table where decisions affecting its future are made,” he added.
The President warned that excluding Africa from permanent representation weakens the global peace architecture, especially at a time when the continent remains central to peacebuilding, counterterrorism, and conflict prevention operations.
“There can be no greater paradox than a global peace architecture that excludes the very regions where peacebuilding and conflict prevention are most urgently needed,” he said.
Ruto framed reform not only as a matter of fairness but also as a necessity for legitimacy and functionality within the international system. He said continued exclusion risks eroding trust in multilateral institutions.
At the same time, he reaffirmed Africa’s push for equitable representation, stating that the continent is not seeking symbolic inclusion but meaningful participation in shaping global decisions.
“Reform is therefore no longer a question of fairness alone; it is a question of effectiveness, legitimacy, and relevance,” he said.
“Africa does not seek to remain a perpetual item on the international agenda; it seeks to be an equal partner in shaping our shared future.”
His remarks come amid growing continental advocacy for expansion of the Security Council to include permanent African representation, a long-standing demand under the broader United Nations reform agenda.