Dammu Ravi, the Secretary of Economic Relations at India’s Ministry of External Affairs, has called for urgent reforms in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to reflect the current geopolitical and economic realities. Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Sunday, Ravi highlighted the need to update the global governance structure, which he argued has not evolved since its establishment in 1945.
Ravi pointed out that the existing UNSC structure no longer meets the needs of a modern world that has significantly changed in the past several decades. He emphasized the shared stance of India and Nigeria in advocating for a more inclusive Security Council, which would better represent the interests of the Global South, a region that remains underrepresented in international decision-making processes.
“The world has changed significantly since the establishment of the UN, but the Security Council’s structure has not evolved accordingly,” Ravi said. “Nigeria and India are on the same page on the need for reform. We have to keep working on that in different forums to sensitize countries on the need for our positions.”
The call for UNSC reform is part of a broader initiative by developing nations seeking a stronger voice in global governance. Ravi underscored the importance of unity among countries in the Global South, including major players like India and Nigeria, in advocating for meaningful changes in the UNSC’s composition. Currently, the UNSC consists of 15 members, including five permanent members with veto power: the United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom, and France.
Despite Africa’s 54 member states in the UN, the continent lacks permanent representation on the UNSC. The U.S. has recently proposed expanding the council to include two permanent seats for African countries, with Nigeria, South Africa, and Egypt emerging as top contenders due to their economic and political influence.
Ravi stressed that the key to successful reform lies in collective action from countries of the Global South, which have experienced significant political and economic growth in recent decades. He noted that a more substantial role for these nations in international decision-making is essential for a more balanced and fair global governance system.
“We need to build this understanding that there is a need for UN reform, and that is fundamental. The reform is necessary, and it has to be done quickly,” he said.
Regarding African representation, Ravi acknowledged the complexity of aligning the positions of various African nations with those of other reform advocates, including India. However, he recognized that there is a growing consensus across Africa on the need for UNSC reform, with Nigeria recently gaining support from several West African nations in its campaign for a permanent seat.
This endorsement followed a diplomatic tour by Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, who visited Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, and Guinea-Bissau to rally support for Nigeria’s UNSC bid.
