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United Nations officials and African leaders called for establishing a permanent seat for Africa at the UN Security Council (UNSC), a move they described as necessary to correct historical injustices and better represent the continent, Al Jazeera reported.

On Monday, Secretary-General António Guterres said during a high-level debate that the UNSC’s composition has not kept pace with the significant geopolitical changes seen since the end of World War II in 1945.

Instead, it reflects the geopolitical realities of 1945 when much of the African continent was under colonial rule. The council is made up of 15 members, 10 of which are non-permanent elected by regional allocation – with three seats for African nations.

The five permanent members are the United States, Russia – previously the Soviet Union – France, China and the United Kingdom. Only the five permanent members have veto power.

Guterres said reforming the UNSC is not only a matter of ethics and justice but also a strategic imperative that could enhance the global acceptance of the council’s decisions.

His comments echoed similar statements by UN General Assembly President Dennis Francis, who stressed the need for the UNSC to reflect current global realities rather than those from nearly 80 years ago, the BBC noted.

A continent with more than a billion people and significant global influence, Africa lacks a permanent voice in this key peace and security body, he said.

The African Union (AU) wants two permanent seats and two additional non-permanent seats for Africa on the council.

During Monday’s debate, Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio also spoke in support of reform, saying, “Africa must be heard, and its demands for justice and equity must be met.”

He also called for the abolition of the veto power, but if it is kept, it “must be extended to all new permanent members as a matter of justice.”

Carlos Lopes, a professor and former AU representative, told Al Jazeera that current global geopolitics favor Africa’s push for better representation.

He explained that African nations have become more adept at navigating global tensions and have used their unified voice to advance their interests, as evidenced by the AU’s recent inclusion in the Group of 20 intergovernmental forum.