New York, United States - August 12, 2024

African United Nations (UN) members on Monday demanded two permanent seats on the Security Council and the abolition of the veto, with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres backing the call as the council met to discuss enhancing Africa's effective representation and other reforms.

The council, currently chaired by Sierra Leone, held a special high-level meeting to address the need to rectify its current structure and tackle Africa's historical marginalization.

During the meeting, Sierra Leone's President Julius Maada Bio urged the Security Council to ensure that Africa's voice is heard, emphasizing that the continent can no longer wait for these reforms.

Guterres, the UN chief, noted that the Security Council has been a bedrock of global peace and security since 1945, but the cracks in its foundation are increasingly widening. He voiced his support for the call to enhance Africa's effective representation in the Security Council to ensure its credibility and legitimacy.

Shotlist:
New York, NY, USA - Aug 12, 2024:
1. United Nations (UN) headquarters, national flags;
2. UN flag;
UN Headquarters, New York City - Aug 12, 2024
3. Meeting in progress;
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Julius Maada Bio, President of Sierra Leone:
"Africa demands two permanent seats on the UN Security Council and two additional non-permanent seats, bringing the total number of non-permanent seats to five. The African Union will choose the African permanent members. Africa wants the veto abolished. However, if UN member states wish to retain the veto, it must be extended to all new permanent members as a matter of justice.";
5. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaking to Julius Maada Bio;
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General (starting with shot 5):
"We cannot accept that the world's preeminent peace and security body lacks a permanent voice for a continent of over a billion people -- a young and rapidly growing population -- making up 28 percent of the membership of the United Nations. Nor can we accept that Africa's views are undervalued on questions of peace and security, both on the continent and around the world.";
FILE: UN Headquarters, New York City - Date Unknown
7. UN flag;
8. UN logo.

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