By Hassan Osman Kargbo
Al-Hassan Gbessay Kanu, a Sierra Leonean presidential hopeful, has issued a powerful statement calling out the United Nations (UN) for what he described as its continued marginalization of Africa. His remarks came in the wake of the UN’s 80th anniversary celebrations, where he observed what he termed “a troubling pattern of disregard” for African leaders during the General Assembly sessions.
According to Kanu, when African leaders addressed the Assembly, many international counterparts were absent from the chamber. Yet, when leaders from other regions took the floor, African heads of state and delegations remained present and engaged. He said this disparity highlighted the world’s lack of interest in Africa’s issues and concerns.
“Africa contributes enormously to the survival and growth of the United Nations, but remains excluded from the most critical decision-making body of the organization, the Security Council,” Kanu declared. “It is unacceptable that while the Security Council’s agenda is constantly filled with issues concerning Africa, no African nation holds a permanent seat at the table. Decisions that shape the destiny of our people are debated and concluded in our absence. This is not representation; it is subjugation.”
Kanu emphasized that Africa is home to 54 sovereign nations, making it the continent with the largest number of member states within the UN. He stressed that the body’s legitimacy, survival, and moral foundation cannot stand while Africa is denied a permanent voice in Security Council deliberations.
He argued that the long-standing demand for Africa’s representation on the Council has been consistently ignored, a position he described as a “blatant act of disrespect and injustice.” Africa, he said, cannot continue to be used as a mere voting bloc to advance the agendas of other regions.
“The UN calls itself the United Nations, but can it truly be united while ignoring the voices of 54 countries simply because of the color of the skin of their citizens?” Kanu asked.
Calling for decisive action, Kanu urged African nations to unite and insist on no fewer than three permanent seats with full voting powers and three non-permanent seats on the Security Council. He further warned that Africa must reconsider its membership in the global body if its demands continue to be ignored.
“For too long, we have tolerated a system that does not work for us. For too long, we have allowed others to make choices on our behalf without our consent. That era is over,” Kanu declared.
He stressed that Africa’s demand is not just about representation but about dignity, equality, and fairness. The continent, he said, deserves a rightful place in the global decision-making process.
“The time has come for Africa to claim its rightful place. The time has come for the UN to prove that it is indeed a body for all nations, or to lose the very foundation of its legitimacy,” he said firmly.
Kanu concluded his statement with a clear warning: Africa is tired of being sidelined and will no longer accept a system that silences its voice. “Africa demands respect, representation, and a seat at the table where the destiny of its people is determined,” he said.
Al-Hassan Gbessay Kanu is a declared candidate for the flagbearership of Sierra Leone’s All People’s Congress (APC) and intends to contest the 2028 presidential election.
