Africa News

South Africa's Zuma says UN Security Council needs African member

Oct 13, 2011, 10:23 GMT

Johannesburg - South African President Jacob Zuma on Thursday said the United Nations Security Council was in need of reform and that the body should have permanent African and Latin American members.

'As South Africa, we believe we can play a critical role as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, advancing the interests of the continent. The time has come for Africa to be represented at that level in this world body,' Zuma said during a lecture on foreign policy at the University of Pretoria.

The president said his 'pressing priority currently, is the reform of international institutions.'

South Africa was recently re-elected for a second term as a non-permanent member of the security council, extending its membership until 2012. Only the five permanent members - Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States - have veto powers.

Zuma also told the students that he supported Palestinian membership in the UN, but stressed that full statehood was the end goal.

'We cannot speak of an Arab Spring unless Palestine is liberated from occupation,' said Zuma.