Full Breakdown
Macron Ends Africa Tour in Ethiopia, Calls for UN Security Council Reform
5/14/2026, 2:39:14 AM
Macron’s Ethiopia Stop Calls for African Seats on UN Security Council
On 13 May 2026, French President Emmanuel Macron concluded a three-nation African tour in Addis Ababa, meeting Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, African Union Commission Chairperson Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, and UN Secretary-General António Guterres. The talks focused on inclusive governance and African representation on the UN Security Council.
Background: African Representation on UN Security Council
The UN Security Council has five permanent members—three European states, the United States, and one Asian state—without any African or Latin American permanent seat. African leaders note that a continent of over 1.4 billion people is under-represented, fueling calls for comprehensive reform.
Key Figures
- Emmanuel Macron – French President advocating UN reform.
- Abiy Ahmed – Ethiopian Prime Minister, host of talks.
- Mahamoud Ali Youssouf – AU Commission Chairperson.
- António Guterres – UN Secretary-General, calling for inclusivity.
Financial Commitments
A loan of US$63.9 million was announced for Ethiopia’s green-energy and digitalisation programme. Macron pledged French government and private-sector mobilisation of US$27 billion for inclusive African growth. The Security Council’s permanent membership remains three European, one North American and one Asian state, with no African permanent seat.
Official Statements
Macron reiterated his call for permanent African seats, saying the council’s composition “does not reflect contemporary global realities.” Guterres said the world would benefit from an inclusive Security Council. The summit’s peace and security declaration urged “the urgent need for a comprehensive reform of the U.N. Security Council to make it more effective and representative.”
Opposition
Guterres noted the council “has a problem of legitimacy, and that brings with it a problem of effectiveness.” African Union officials have repeatedly decried the exclusion of a continent of over a billion people from permanent decision-making power.
Conflicting Reports
One source truncates the loan figure at “$63.” while another lists “$63.9 million,” showing a reporting inconsistency. No timeline was given for the $27 billion pledge.
Verbatim Quotes
- “A Security Council that today does not represent geographically the realities of the world.” — António Guterres
- “A Security Council that today does not represent geographically the realities of the world. We have three European permanent members, one North American and one Asian. No Latin American, no African is obviously a Security Council that has a problem of legitimacy, and that brings with it a problem of effectiveness,” — António Guterres
- “the urgent need for a comprehensive reform of the U.N. Security Council to make it more effective and representative.” — Peace and Security Declaration, Africa Forward Summit
- “recognized the need for African representation,” — Readout of meeting between Macron, Abiy Ahmed, Mahamoud Ali Youssouf and António Guterres
What’s Next
The United Nations is expected to consider the summit’s reform proposals at its upcoming General Assembly session, while France and Ethiopia will begin implementing the loan-funded green-energy projects later in 2026.
