Zambia’s former Permanent Representative to the African Union (AU), Ambassador Emmanuel Mwamba, has called for urgent reforms to the United Nations system. He argued that the UN must modernize if it is to address today’s geopolitical and humanitarian challenges effectively.
Ambassador Mwamba made the remarks on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly Heads of State and Government Summit, which coincides with the UN’s 80th anniversary. He said the milestone offers a pivotal moment to restructure the institution and adapt it to the realities of the 21st century.
A central theme of his address was the need to reform the UN Security Council (UNSC). Mwamba highlighted the structural imbalance created by the veto power held exclusively by the five permanent members, namely China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. He stressed that Africa and much of the Global South remain excluded from this decision-making core, a situation he described as inequitable and outdated.
He noted that the current framework has reduced the UN’s ability to resolve major conflicts. He pointed to the organization’s limited role in crises such as the war in Ukraine, the Israel-Palestine conflict, and humanitarian emergencies in Africa’s Sahel, Horn of Africa, and Great Lakes regions.
Drawing on his experience as Zambia’s Permanent Representative when the country served as Vice-Chairperson of the African Union’s Committee of Ten (C-10), Mwamba reaffirmed Africa’s commitment to advancing the Common African Position on UN reform. The C-10 has long pushed for permanent African representation on the Security Council.
Mwamba also urged member states to support the “UN80” reform initiative launched by Secretary-General António Guterres in March 2025. The initiative seeks to streamline the UN’s structure and strengthen its capacity to respond to global challenges. He called for stronger collaboration between the C-10, the “Uniting for Consensus” coalition, and the “Article 109 Coalition,” which brings together civil society and academic experts advocating for reform.
In concluding his remarks, Mwamba stressed the importance of using the UN’s anniversary to reinforce protections for the family unit, which he described as the fundamental group unit of society deserving state protection.
Ambassador Mwamba is attending the 2025 UN General Assembly High-Level Week, running from September 22 to 29, which marks 80 years since the founding of the United Nations.