Prof. David J Francis Co-chairs Ninth Ministerial-level Meeting On The Reform Of The Unsc In Uganda

Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Prof. David J. Francis co-chaired the Ninth Ministerial-Level Meeting of the African Union Committee of Ten of Heads of State and Government (C-10) on the Reform of the United Nations Security Council alongside the Hon. Gen. Odongo Jeje Abubakhar, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uganda in Kampala on 20th January, 2022. The C-10 was established by the African Union (AU) with the mandate to promote and canvass the African Common Position on the reform of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

The President of the Republic of Uganda, His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni formally convened the Ninth Ministerial-Level Meeting. Also present were Foreign Ministers and representatives from C-10 member states and representatives from the African Union including the Commissioner for Political Affairs Peace and Security, Ambassador Bankole Adeoye. The membership of C-10 includes the Heads of States and Governments of Senegal, Uganda, Algeria, Kenya, Zambia, Sierra Leone, the Republic of Congo, Libya, Namibia and Equatorial Guinea. The objectives of the Ninth Ministerial-Level Meeting included: to continue recalibrating and rekindling energy towards achieving the ultimate goal of C-10; to develop more strategies in canvassing and advancing the Common African Position; to build upon the progress thus far, through and with other stakeholders, with a view to taking advantage of the existing commonalities and finding ways of narrowing areas of divergence, for Africa to remain cohesive on all aspects of the process and continue speaking with one voice in unity of purpose without yielding to any undue pressure until the Common African Position enshrined in the Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration is achieved. “

The Common African Position is simply about requesting for two seats in the Permanent Category of UN Security Council with all the prerogatives, privileges and rights including the veto if retained in the reform process; and two additional seats in the Non- Permanent Category in the UN Security Council”

Foreground: Prof. David J. Francis, Minister
Background: H.E. Isatu A. Bundu, High Commissioner

Earlier, Prof. David J. Francis delivered opening remarks at the Senior Officials’ meeting of the Ninth Ministerial-Level Meeting of the African Union Committee of Ten of Heads of State and Governments at the Speke Resort, Munyonyo, Kampala on 19th January, 2022. In his remarks, the Minister extended President Bio’s fraternal greetings to His Excellency President Yoweri Museveni, Government and the people of the Republic of Uganda, thanking them for hosting the meeting; commending their invaluable and unyielding efforts in ensuring that the continent achieves its ultimate goal of United Nations Security Council Reform.

“Impressive progress has been made in terms of canvassing, promoting and speaking with one voice, but the reform agenda cannot be achieved overnight. Africans should remain committed in upholding African Common Position and maintaining its integrity; and there is a need to continue speaking with one voice about a clear roadmap for effectively advancing the Common African Position on the United Nations Security Council reform” The Minister also commended President Bio for his role as the Chair and Coordinator of the C-10 and his consistency in demonstrating strong leadership and commitment in the pursuit of the C-10 mandate as well as in advancing the objectives of the African Common Position in the reform of the UN Security Council.

In attendance were the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uganda, Hon. Gen. Abubakar Jeje Odongo; Sierra Leone’s High Commissioner Designate to Uganda with residence in Kenya, H.E. Isatu Aminata Bundu; Sierra Leone’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, H.E. Alhaji Fanday Turay; Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the African Union, H.E. Adekunle Joliff Milton King; AU Commissioner for Political Affairs Peace and Security, Ambassador Bankole Adeoye; and Permanent Representatives to New York from the C-10 countries. Sierra Leone’s Permanent Representative to United Nations, HE Alhaji Fanday Turay gave a comprehensive overview of the inter- governmental negotiations in the UN system. He expressed profound gratitude to all C-10 members for the collective focus and commitment in advancing the Common African Position on the Reform of the UN Security Council as enshrined in Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration.