Ruto calls UN Security Council ‘undemocratic’ and calls for rapid reforms for inclusivity and accountability

NEW YORK, United States – September 26 – Kenyan President William Ruto delivered a powerful speech at the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), condemning the current structure of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) as dysfunctional, undemocratic and in dire need reform.

He cited several urgent global challenges, calling for bold and transformative action on issues ranging from international security to economic inequality and climate change.

President Ruto’s speech was marked by a strong criticism of the UN Security Council, describing the organization as autocratic, irresponsible and opaque. He highlighted the exclusionary nature of the council, particularly its inability to represent Africa’s 54 countries and 1.4 billion people while giving one nation veto power over the decisions of 193 member states.

“An institution that excludes 54 African countries… while one country vetoes the decisions of the remaining 193 member states is unacceptable,” Ruto said, calling for reforms to make the UN Security Council more inclusive, transparent and accountable. “The Council is dysfunctional, undemocratic, non-inclusive, irresponsible, autocratic and opaque,” ​​he added, urging a fundamental restructuring to reflect the realities of the 21st century.

The Kenyan leader lamented that the council’s failure had undermined his ability to maintain international peace and security, with conflicts in countries such as Ukraine, Darfur, Yemen and Haiti becoming a battlefield for armed factions and proxy wars. Ruto said these conflicts have exposed the council’s inability to tackle global instability, warning that “unilateralism and militarization” have taken precedence over dialogue and diplomacy.

Kenya’s role in peacekeeping and regional stability

Ruto also highlighted Kenya’s commitment to promoting global peace and security, detailing the country’s participation in peacekeeping and conflict resolution efforts. He noted Kenya’s role in the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) and the launch of the Tumaini Initiative, a peace process aimed at resolving the long-standing conflict in South Sudan.

Kenya’s involvement in Haiti also featured prominently in Ruto’s speech. Following approval from the Security Council, Kenya has deployed 382 specially trained police officers as part of a Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) to help stabilize the country. “Our support for the Haitian National Police has significantly advanced the pacification of towns and villages, protected critical infrastructure and decongested many communities previously held captive by criminal gangs,” Ruto said, urging the international community to provide further financial and provide logistical support to the Haitian National Police. mission.

Global economic inequality and financial reforms

Besides security issues, Ruto painted a grim picture of global economic inequality, especially as it affects developing countries in the South. He pointed to the unsustainable debt burden that is forcing countries to make difficult choices between essential public services and debt repayment.

“Many countries in the South are forced to choose between buying medicines and hospital equipment or paying debts, between buying textbooks or paying debts,” he said. “This is not an abstract illustration separated from everyday reality, but the normal experience of billions of ordinary people.”

Ruto called for a reform of the international financial architecture, including measures such as debt relief, concessional financing and better access to affordable credit for developing countries. He criticized biased credit rating systems that disadvantage African countries and limit their access to international capital markets.

To address these challenges, Ruto noted that Kenya has championed the Africa Green Industrialization Initiative, aimed at unlocking investments in sustainable energy projects across the continent. He stressed that the vast potential of Africa’s renewable energy – solar, wind, geothermal and hydropower – remains largely untapped, and urged the international community to invest in the future of Africa’s clean energy.

Climate change and environmental sustainability

Climate change was at the heart of Ruto’s speech, in which he outlined the growing threats from extreme weather events, biodiversity loss and pollution, especially in Africa. He highlighted that in 2022, more than 110 million people in Africa were directly affected by climate-related disasters, causing more than $8.5 billion in economic damage.

“We are at a crossroads and the path to correcting the climate course is clear,” Ruto warned ahead of the upcoming COP29 climate summit in Baku, Azerbaijan. Calling for urgent collective action, he stressed the need for a new global climate finance target and more significant support for developing countries.

In addition, Ruto supported the adoption of a robust global plastics treaty during the fifth round of negotiations in Busan, South Korea. He supported the African proposal to locate the Treaty Secretariat in Nairobi, highlighting Kenya’s leading role as host of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).

“It is indeed unfortunate and regrettable that UNEP is the only body where secretariats of conventions established under it are increasingly being cut away and relocated elsewhere,” Ruto said. He called for the protection of UNEP’s mandate and for further investment in Nairobi as a regional and humanitarian hub for the United Nations.

The call for unity and collective action

President Ruto further urged world leaders to recommit to multilateralism, echoing the theme of this year’s UNGA session: “Unity in Diversity for the Promotion of Peace, Sustainable Development and Human Dignity for All anywhere.” He called for a bold reinterpretation of international cooperation to adapt it to the complex realities of the 21st century.

“Our actions must reflect our ambition and commitment to a world where progress is measured not only by economic growth, but also by the well-being, rights and dignity of every person,” Ruto said. He stressed the need for collective action to combat climate change, reduce economic inequality and reform global governance structures such as the UN Security Council to ensure they reflect the aspirations of all countries.

About the author

BERNARD MOMANYI

Bernard is the Editorial Director at Capital FM, with almost twenty years of experience in both print and electronic media. He holds an Executive Masters in Media Leadership and Innovation from the Aga Khan University, Nairobi-Kenya, a Master of Arts in Communication Studies with a focus on Development Communication from the University of Nairobi and a Bachelor’s degree in Information Science from Moi University.