UN Security Council’s ineffectiveness is robbing Africa opportunities for peace and development, leaving humanitarian needs to spiral

The United Nations Security Council’s (UNSC) actions and inactions have failed to protect African populations from violence and unrest, according to a new Oxfam report. 

As a result, humanitarian needs on the continent are exploding, while funding levels are not increasing to meet these needs. Urgent reforms are needed to stop the “Permanent Five” from being their own “judge and jury”.

The report, Vetoing Humanity, studied 23 of the world’s most protracted conflicts over the past decade – 14 of which are in Africa – and highlights that 354 out of the over 450 passed resolutions were on African conflicts, but none have worked effectively. 

The report concludes that the five permanent members of the UNSC - China, France, Russia, the UK and the US - are exploiting their exclusive voting and negotiating powers to suit their own geopolitical interests. In doing so, they are undermining the Council’s ability to maintain international peace and security. Specifically, Russia and the United States are particularly responsible for abusing their veto power which is blocking progress toward peace in Ukraine, Syria, and the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel.

African countries have no permanent seats at the UN Security Council, despite being home to 54 countries and 1.4 billion people, and making nearly a fifth of the United Nations' entire membership. The continent’s absence from permanent representation has weakened its influence on crucial global decisions. 

Oxfam in Africa Director, Ms. Fati N’Zi Hassane said:

“The UN Security Council was built in a bygone colonial time, and is marred by deep inequalities that does not reflect the realities of today. Despite bearing the brunt of both climate change and ongoing conflicts, Africa’s voice remains muted in the corridors of global power. This has robbed Africa of opportunities for peace and sustainable development.”

The report critiques the Council members’ powers of “pen-holding”, which allow them to lead on negotiations and direct how resolutions are drafted, tabled, or ignored – again, too often according to their own interests. 

While France and the UK have not used their veto in the last decade, they and the US have held the pen on two-thirds of resolutions relating to the 23 protracted crises studied by Oxfam. France, for example, has held the pen on several African countries' resolutions, including Mali’s. However, in 2023, Mali objected to French pen-holding given what it considered “acts of aggression and destabilization” there.

The UNSC has passed nearly 80 resolutions on both South Sudan and Sudan, 53 on Somalia and 48 on Libya but all of those have proven largely ineffective at achieving sustainable peace. 

This neglect towards Africa, along with complex geopolitical dynamics and root causes has had devastating consequences with the continent accounting for 50% of the 1.1 million conflict-related deaths.

Although the Democratic Republic of Congo has been the subject of 25 UNSC resolutions in the past 10 years, the UN mission there (MONUSCO) has been hampered by chronic underfunding and a lack of coordination.

Many other initiatives are not even written up or tabled because they would inevitability be vetoed, the report says. As a result, the 23 crises studied by Oxfam’s report are being treated in wildly different ways. 

Nearly half of them have been largely neglected with fewer than five resolutions each over the last decade, and not a single resolution concerning Ethiopia could be tabled despite being one of the deadliest conflicts of the 21st century with 380,000 battle-related deaths.

“Africa’s future must be shaped by Africans themselves and the UNSC must empower Africa within the Security Council to address the massive humanitarian and security challenges affecting millions in the region,” added N’Zi-Hassane.

The number of people needing humanitarian assistance in Africa has more than quadrupled in the last decade, triggering massive funding needs. Between 2014 and 2023, the UN-coordinated appeal for Africa countries has doubled from $10.07 billion to over $22.3 billion – but less than half of this amount was met last year.  

The report is critical of the fact that humanitarian funding remains entirely dependent upon voluntary contributions. In contrast, UN member state funding for peacekeeping operations is mandatory. 

The UNSC primarily focuses on security, often neglecting impacts of climate change and long-term development needs like poverty eradication, healthcare, and education—crucial for stabilizing regions and preventing conflicts over resources.

As the Summit of the Future kicks off this week to envision a revitalized UN, Oxfam calls for a wholesale reform of the UN Security Council, including the abolition of the veto power.

“We need a new vision that matches today’s realities and dismantles colonial legacies. For this to happen, Africa must have a seat at the table in the Council with a renewed focus on long-term development and climate security that are paramount to addressing the continent's urgent needs and achieving global justice. Ongoing efforts, including from the African Union, are crucial to advancing this agenda ” said N’Zi-Hassane.