Although not a single African state possess a permanent seat on the Council, issues affecting the African continent are frequently discussed there. Obviously, it is inconceivable for the Council to function effectively and efficiently without changing its current composition, by increasing the number of permanent and non-permanent seats.  For the Council to maintain its relevance and credibility, it needs to evolve to complement the demands of the ever-changing world.  Collective efforts should be focused on to ensure that the Council is a representative of  all member countries, and where all member states are able to voice their concerns and aspirations in matters related to world peace and security. It is only a more balanced and comprehensive representation that could lead to a better sense of ownership of the Council by all states and that could be achieved by expanding the membership in both permanent and non-permanent categories.  

As the president rightly stated, "Africa is ten times larger than Europe as a continent, and they have almost three permanent members while Africa does not have a single permanent member. It is also evident as he put that the developed world developed as a result and at the expense of Africa, yet  they continue to disrespect us.  A close scrutiny of the organisation of the Security Council unveils that the so called world powers are still treating Africa as the underdog of global issues. It is therefore time for the system to change.

Furthermore, like His Excellency the president, we should all be resolved to making sure that "any resolution concerning an African country will not be binding on Africa because we have been insulted for a very long time and we are no longer going to take it". This is probably one of the most significant statements an African leader can make about the imbalance at the United Nations. If other African countries uphold these principles of President Jammeh, there is little doubt that those so called super powers  who continue to monopolise the United Nations will succumb to a reform.

All efforts by the developing world, Africa in particular to making the United Nations a trully representative organ proved futile. The Council is a body frozen in time and procedure while international realities undergo great changes.  It could be recalled that Africa, with its 52 states, had already indicated its firm determination to play its part in a restructured Security Council.  In the Harare Declaration of June 1997, African states had advocated expanding Security Council membership to 26   with two permanent seats for Africa and five rotating non-permanent seats for the continent, based on criteria prescribed by those same African states; yet Africa's demands continue to fall on deaf ears. 

We therefore once again commend the likes of  President Jammeh for realising that the time has come to engender a more just global order and taking the bull by the horn in achieving the new world order.