Introduction
With the establishment of the United Nations after World War II, there has been substantial progress in the management of international relations, since for the first time countries swore to “save succeeding generations from the scourge of war” and, therefore, to enforce, preserve and protect global peace. The Charter of the United Nations, signed in San Francisco in 1945 and ratified by the 51 original members states, established the premises for a solid structure that could deal with the pathological phase of international relations most efficiently; first and foremost, this was thanks to the Security Council being considered essential in upholding peace and international security.
The Security Council originally included eleven members, which became fifteen in 1963. It was decided that the organization would have a monopoly on the use of force, which conversely, under paragraph 4 of Article 2 of the Charter, shouldn’t be employed by UN member states.
The prerequisite for employing military resources when needed, though, is the explicit consent (eventually, abstention was accepted as well) of the five permanent members, which also have the power of veto on any decision made by the Council: the United States, China, the Soviet Union (then replaced by the Russian Federation), France and Great Britan.
The structure of the Security Council here described properly depicts the international scene after World War II; almost eighty years later, in a multipolar world, the circumstances now urge the UN to reform its most important organ.
Assessing prospects for reform: could Nigeria be a new permanent member?
After the Cold War, the possibility for the Council to be reformed raises many concerns about timing and methods, causing countries to take different stances. However, it is clear and broadly recognised that an intervention is necessary in order to “right the historical injustice of Africa’s exclusion from permanent seats” and accurately depict the current geopolitical reality, as pointed out by Alie Kabba, the representative of Sierra Leone speaking on the behalf of the African Group during the 75th plenary of the General Assembly in November 2020. On that occasion, Zhang Jun similarly addressed the issue, also highlighting the significant discrepancies in representation between nations in the North and South.
According to the proposal advanced by the African delegate, he calls for two more permanent seats with power of veto and an enlarged Council with a higher number of elective seats.
The countries aspiring to become permanent members are Egypt, South Africa and Nigeria, which is part of the UN since 1960 and aims to obtain permanent membership since 1991, “when General Ibrahim Babangida, head of state, expressed himself in regard to the matter. In June 2000 the Minister for Foreign Affairs Dubem Onyia advanced the same position once again, during a meeting with a delegation representing Kofi Annan, who was Secretary-General of the United Nations at the time”, as reported by George Chimdi Mbara, researcher from the University of KwaZulu Natal, in the Journal of African Foreign Affairs.
In light of the role played by Nigeria in the continental and global context, the country’s aspiration is understandable, Nigeria being de-facto the leader of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) since the establishment of a civilian government in 1999.
Along with the strong relationship that bonds Nigeria with the United States and Great Britan, since they have granted access to the country’s oil reserves, China is asserting its dominance even more through Huawei; at the end of last year, the company worked on building an electronic system of constant and thorough surveillance for 5,000 km along Nigeria’s borders, thus trapping Abuja further in debt with Beijing.
Considering the strong economic interests that China has in Nigeria, as well as in the whole continent, six months ago the country declared once again to support the Nigerian cause through the speaker of parliament Zhang Dejiang. French Minister of Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna followed only a few months later, expressing undoubtedly France’s aims to support a stable country that could deal with the coups d’état that happened in bordering countries.
The possibility of Nigeria becoming a permanent member, however, seems remote and unlikely, even if the reform of the Security Council were to be realized, which is equally unrealistic. If Dr. Mbara, in an effort to describe the circumstances, declares that it would be easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, according to the report of the Afrobarometer the country is undeniably fragile, divided and unstable. “As the most populous country in Africa, Nigeria experiences the full range of security concerns, from petty to organised crime and communal conflicts to terrorism and cybercrimes”, says the report of October 11, stating that “the police have long failed” to accomplish its tasks, being accused, in addition, of practicing torture and violating other human rights. Moreover, there is an increasing number of citizens that, while preferring it, criticize democracy and complain about the whole electoral system as well.
Translated by Elisa Bruni
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