Decolonizing Global Governance: Realizing the Ezulwini Consensus

Over 75 years since the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)United Nations Security Council (UNSC) was established with five permanent seats, and over 60 years after colonialismColonial(ism), Africa as a continent of 55 statesState(s) has still not acquired a permanent seat at the UNSC to reflect the evolutionEvolution(ary) of international politicsInternational politics despite the 2005 Ezulwini ConsensusEzulwini Consensus, also known as the Common African Position (CAPCommon African Position (CAP)). Humanitarian (military) interventions in Africa authorized by the UNSCUnited Nations Security Council (UNSC) have been decided largely without the African voice. The role of the vetoVeto-holding UNSC members in the 2011 Libyan crisis whereby UNSCUnited Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 1973 to implement a no-fly zoneNo-fly zone under Responsibility to Protect (R2P)Responsibility to Protect (R2P) turned into regime change after the resolutionResolution(s) had been granted, presents the view that the UN system of global governanceGovernance is rather a new colonialColonial(ism) instrument that is taking advantage of Africa’s lack of a permanent seat at the horseshoeHorseshoe.1 This chapter explored the potential for the African UnionAfrican Union (AU) (AU) realizing the CAPCommon African Position (CAP) for a minimum of two permanent seats for Africa with vetoVeto powers and five non-permanent seats at the UNSC. At the 77th UN General Assembly (UNGA), United States (US)US President Joe Biden announced “that the United States fully supports reforming the U.N. Security Council to include permanent representation for Africa”.2 The chapter is therefore about UNSCUnited Nations Security Council (UNSC) Reform, and to some extent that of the UN body itself.