The debate over the UN Security Council often dances around the most powerful tool in global politics: the veto. At the UN General Assembly, Seychelles President Patrick Herminie refused to sugarcoat the issue. He took the stage to assert that Africa must be granted at least two permanent seats on the Council, and crucially, these seats must come with full veto power.
For decades, a handful of nations have used their veto power to block resolutions, protect their allies, and control the global agenda. President Herminie made it clear that Africa will not accept a second-class membership. “As long as the veto power exists, Africa must hold it,” he insisted. He pointed out the deep unfairness of a system where five countries can overrule the collective will of the rest of the world, especially when those decisions directly impact African lives.
Herminie argued that giving Africa permanent seats without the veto would be an empty gesture—a symbolic chair at the table with no real voice. “We are not asking to just be in the room; we are demanding the same power to decide our fate as everyone else,” he stated.
For small island developing states like Seychelles, having a strong, veto-wielding African presence on the Council is vital for protecting the continent’s interests against climate change and economic exploitation. True multilateralism requires a balance of power, and Herminie’s bold address demanded that the scales finally be tipped toward total justice.