12 August 2024
Thank you, President, and I also thank Secretary-General Guterres, PGA Francis and Ms. Mbete for their insights.
With a growing young population and heterogenous cultural and historical contexts, Africa plays a key role in driving change in the challenging times of today.
As echoed in the New Agenda for Peace, Africa’s aspirations should be supported and facilitated by the international community, including by the Security Council.
These political efforts should also be complemented by the necessary reform of the international financial architecture, as currently being addressed in negotiations on the Pact for the Future.
President
Our collective responsibility is necessary to offset the historical under-representation of Africa on this Council.
As forming part of the Uniting for Consensus Group, Malta fully supports Africa’s calls for increased representation, and we believe that the UfC model responds to these calls effectively.
In the case of an enlargement of the Council up to 27 Member States, the UfC model would elevate seats for the African Group from the current 3 to 6 elected seats. Some of these seats would also have a longer-term, enabling countries with capacity and willingness to further contribute to the Council’s work.
Malta firmly believes in a Security Council that reflects today’s realities, underpinned by a genuine pursuit of equitable representation. This principle should form an integral part of our discussions today. By expanding the elected seat category for Africa, we witness a 100 percent increase in its representation.
Allow me to recall recent achievements led by our elected African partners on this Council, reflecting its effectiveness and democracy.
The landmark Resolution 2719 on UN-assessed contributions for AU-led Peace Support Operations, facilitated by last year’s configuration of the A3 – Ghana, Gabon, and Mozambique – is one such example.
By recognising the complementarity of regional configurations to security in Africa, we are inherently recognising the significant contributions of African countries to peacekeeping.
Through effective co-penholderships, particularly those related to African files on the Council, Council Members have been able to adopt important products.
We welcome the recent adoptions of the Presidential Statement on UNOWAS, co-penned by Sierra Leone and Switzerland, and the Resolution authorising MONUSCO’s support to SAMIDRC, co-penned by France and Sierra Leone.
Jointly with some of our African partners on the Council, we have also worked to ensure the implementation of the Shared Commitments on Women, Peace and Security. This includes advancing language on the full, equal, meaningful, and safe participation of women in discussions and products, with the WPS Informal Experts Group contributing significantly to this effect.
Similar approaches have been invested in addressing the climate related risks on peace and security, through the Joint Pledges on Climate, Peace and Security, and the CPS Informal Experts Group.
President
Every time the Council fails to act on the most delicate and urgent matters, often as a result of the pervasive use of the veto, the international community is failing in its responsibility to maintain peace and security. Malta continues to support efforts to curtail the veto’s use, especially when faced with the gravest crimes of concern to the international community. Any additional discussions on Security Council Reform must continue to take place within the IGN.
To conclude, let us collectively infuse credibility and prosperity for future generations. Our aspirations are with Africa’s. As we share multiple common interests and concerns, so too we share a common approach to finding solutions.
I thank you.