France and Mexico gained 11 more African supporters of veto restrictions in the UN Security Council. The initiative is approaching a vote in New York.
A joint initiative by France and Mexico aimed at limiting the inappropriate use of the veto in the UN Security Council has been supported by 11 other African states. At the end of the two-day economic summit in the Kenyan capital Nairobi, French President Emmanuel Macron announced this on Tuesday, AFP writes.
- A joint Franco-Mexico initiative to limit the veto at the UN has won the support of Africa.
- After joining eleven African states, the initiative has a total of one hundred and eighteen supporters.
- France wants to get the missing eleven votes for the General Assembly in September.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot later clarified on the X social network that after the support of “11 new African countries”, including Kenya, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Mauritania, the total number of supporters of the initiative increased to 118.
Perspective on the UN vote
France wants to get the missing 11 votes by September, when the session of the UN General Assembly takes place, where the initiative could be put to a vote. However, the resolution would not be legally binding even if two-thirds of the member states supported it.
The representatives of the initiative want to make it more difficult for the permanent members of the UN Security Council – China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States – to use the right of veto in cases of mass atrocities.
Concerns about the weakening of Africa
AFP recalled that the UN Security Council is significantly paralyzed by vetoes, especially from Russia and the US, leading to criticism of the UN’s ability to help end conflicts.
Several African states are reluctant to support this initiative for fear that it could replace a more comprehensive reform of the UN Security Council and a stronger representation of Africa in it.
