Somalia Joins the U.N. Security Council
Somalia was elected to the U.N. Security Council on Thursday. They will serve a two-year term starting in 2025.
Other Elected Countries
Somalia was elected along with Denmark, Greece, Pakistan, and Panama. These countries will replace Ecuador, Japan, Malta, Mozambique, and Switzerland at the end of the year.
Importance for Somalia
“This is a big deal for Somalia,” said analyst Abdiqafar Abdi Wardhere from Virginia. “It gives Somalia more access to other member nations.”
Voting Power for Somalia
For the first time in over 50 years, Somalia will have a vote on important global issues. “The Security Council can make binding decisions like sanctions and authorizing force,” Wardhere explained.
Election Announcement
U.N. General Assembly President Dennis Francis announced the results. He said the elected countries got the required two-thirds majority of votes from the 193-member General Assembly.
Congratulations to Somalia
The United Nations in Somalia congratulated the Somali government and people on their election to the Security Council.
Somalia’s Progress
James Swan, the UN Acting Special Representative for Somalia, said, “Somalia has made great progress in peace, prosperity, and security over the past three decades. Being elected to the Security Council shows this progress.”
Unique Contributions
“Somalia’s experiences make it well-suited to help with discussions on international peace and security,” Swan added.
Security Council Members
The Security Council includes five permanent members with veto power: Britain, China, France, Russia, and the United States.
New and Existing Members
The new members will join existing non-permanent members Algeria, Guyana, South Korea, Sierra Leone, and Slovenia.
Seat Distribution
The 10 non-permanent seats on the Security Council are divided among different regions: Africa and Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Western Europe and others. The newly elected members were endorsed by their regional groups and mostly ran uncontested.
